Iron Maiden Singer Reacts To Fans ‘Turning Back On Him’

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson recently recalled how fans turned their backs on him when he parted ways with Iron Maiden. He stated that “nobody could listen” to his music during that time.

After the conclusion of the “Fear of the Dark” tour in 1992, he departed from the band to focus on his solo career. Up until that point, he enjoyed the support of thousands of fans around the world who praised his voice at every opportunity. However, following his departure from Iron Maiden, controversy erupted within the fanbase.

Bruce Dickinson talks about fans turning on him

Speaking with Metal Hammer, Dickinson admitted that he never understood this. Recalling his 1994 solo album “Balls to Picasso,” he noted that the backlash he received was often senseless:

“My wife did tell me this afterwards: ‘You know the problem was, when you left, it didn’t matter if you’d made the best record in the world – nobody could listen to it. Nobody was gonna give it a shot because it was just so overwhelming that you weren’t there in Maiden anymore.'”

Bruce Dickinson said he doesn’t understand “tribal” loyalty — whether it’s to a band or a football club. He explained that he doesn’t support any one team, only whichever club is the best at the moment, and noted that while he recognizes Iron Maiden fans feel that deep loyalty, he doesn’t personally relate to that mindset in his own life.

Dickinson continued:

“And I was just like, ‘I don’t understand that.’ It’s the same reason why I don’t support a football club. I support the best football club; I don’t support a football club.”

“I don’t get that tribal thing. I understand that it’s why people love Maiden a lot, I understand that, but I find it hard to locate that inside me as a general way of going about my life.”