As we grieve the passing of one of the greatest voices in heavy metal, it’s wise to savor those who still rock among us.
Few frontmen in metal loom as powerfully—and as instantly recognizable—as Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, who joined the band in 1981, replacing original singer Paul Di’Anno just as the British group’s galloping riffage and dystopian storytelling were poised to stand out from their peers.
With The Number of the Beast in 1982, Dickinson helped catapult the ferocious band to international stardom, thanks to his operatic tenor, which soared above Steve Harris’ nimble bass lines and the dual guitar attack of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray.
Despite the tight commotion behind him—and the unrelenting beats of Nicko McBrain—it was Dickinson’s voice that became the signature of the group’s sound: commanding, precise, and theatrical.
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