Iron Maiden Singer Bruce Dickinson Recalls the Moment He Got His Voice Back After Cancer Treatment

2021-12-25

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden performing live.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden says he immediately relaxed when he could tell his voice was returning following cancer treatment

There’s no denying that Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden has the pipes of an Angel. As the lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, Dickinson has helped take the band to superstar status with his powerful, operatic vocals that soar for hours during live shows.

Back in 2015, Dickinson underwent seven weeks of treatment to treat and get rid of a cancerous tumor on the back of his tongue. He was declared cancer-free in May 2015, thanks to the treatment and early diagnosis.

Dickinson remembers the moment he was able to sing again following his bout with tongue cancer. It’s a sweet memory, made even sweeter by the fact he wasn’t in a rush to get to 100% again.

“In early May [2015], I started trying to sing and it sounded absolutely terrible. I sounded like some wounded beast,” Dickinson said in an interview with Yahoo! Music regarding the beginning of his recovery. “I was just like, ‘Oh my God!’ So, I waited another two or three months. I was wandering around the kitchen, waiting until everybody had gone out, and just started to give the voice a bit of a workout. I went, ‘OK, let’s have a go at the top.'”

Dickinson went on to try signing a few lines of one of Maiden’s most popular songs, “Run to the Hills.” He was pleased with the result. “I went, ‘Oh, ooh, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. Oh my God.'” he said, “and then I just relaxed, because I’m not in a hurry now; I know it’s all there. It’s come back.”

Dickinson and Iron Maiden went on to record their 17th studio album, “Senjutsu,” in early 2019. Even though the record was recorded before the pandemic, Dickinson says the record’s dark themes do fit what’s going on with the worldwide pandemic, explaining, “Strangely, we have one or two songs that do appear to be on the Zeitgeist here of what’s going on.” The record arrived in September and features the song “Darkest Hour,” which is one of Audio Ink Radio’s top rock and metal songs of 2021.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.