| His first career steps can hardly be called that. His recordings with the band Speed are almost unknown, and the song for the band Xero which was released on their Oh Baby EP is not worth mentioning as it is not a highlight in his discography. But from that time on, everything became much, much better. When he joined forces with British guitarist Paul Samson, two excellent New Wave Of British Heavy Metal albums saw the light of day, and some re-recordings were done of earlier stuff. During that time he went by the name of Bruce Bruce, something which in retrospect is not the most ingenious of aliases.
Samson
"Six Foot Under" from Survivors (re-recorded)
"Earth Mother" from Shock Tactics
The it was time for the breakthrough. Bruce was recruited for Iron Maiden. With The Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind and Powerslave, the five piece build the foundation for becoming one of the best known Metal bands of all time. A highly regarded Live album would follow, and four more studio albums until 1993 Dickinson left the band.
Iron Maiden "22 Acacia Avenue" from The Number Of The Beast
And formed his own posse. After his solo debut in 1990, he now focussed his concentration on his solo career. Ball To Picasso and Skunkworks were as different from his former musical tradition as one could have imagined, but suddenly he returned to the old style with Accident Of Birth, having recruited Adrian Smith to his band. Many regard this album as the best Iron Maiden style album that does not bear the band's name.
Bruce Dickinson "Solar Confinement" from Skunkworks
"The Road To Hell" from Accident Of Birth
In 2000, he helped out Arjen Lucassen, mastermind of Ayreon, on his Universal Migrator Part II epos. Not only is the song the best on the whole album, his singing is a spowerful as ever.
Ayreon "Into The Black Hole" from Universal Migrator Part II
Time for a reunion? Yes, it was. Iron Maiden was not too successful without Bruce, and his return to the old style after having tried to expand his musical boundaries only to find that what he did before he did best, and obviously enjoyed, too, freed the way for another Iron Maiden album with all the old members, plus one additional guitar player. Brave New World marked a mighty return for the Maidens.
Iron Maiden "Brave New World" from Brave New World
A Best of Album was inevitable, and Bruce releases a double album with two unreleased tracks and lots of obscure versions, quite fitting for the legacy. But the solo discography was far from finished. In 2005, he returned with Tyranny Of Souls.
Bruce Dickinson "Silver Wings" from Best Of Bruce Dickinson
"Power Of The Sun" from Tyranny Of Souls
The latest release from Iron Maiden, again and still with Bruce at the microphone, is called A Matter Of Life And Death. It is the most progressive of all Iron Maiden albums, but the original style is ever present.
Iron Maiden "For The Greater Good Of God" from A Matter Of Life And Death
The lastest sign of life is a recording with British band Pig Iron, done for his own BBC 6 radio show that he hosts. The band and Dickinson played a nice version of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'". Enjoy! Bruce Dickinson and Pig Iron "Space Truckin'"
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