There’s no denying that Iron Maiden has withstood the test of time, with enduring lineup stability. In a recent interview with Stereogum, frontman Bruce Dickinson, reflected on the evolution of their dynamics since his and guitarist Adrian Smith‘s return in 1999.
Dickinson‘s remarks shed light on a pivotal shift in the band’s mindset — a transition from a perceived “homogenous blob” to a collective of individuals united by their love for Iron Maiden‘s music. This departure from the past notion of a monolithic entity highlights a crucial aspect of band dynamics: the recognition and celebration of individuality within the group.
“I think we’ve all grown up just enough to appreciate that we were all separate individuals who got together to play Iron Maiden music. I think what pissed Adrian off, and me to a certain extent, was this idea that we were just this homogenous blob that was Iron Maiden. That we were a single block of concrete. Adrian rebelled against that. I didn’t particularly like the idea either. Because it was, like, ‘Are we not individuals then?’ And then it was, ‘To a certain extent.’ Well, no. Now we’ve rejoined.”
“The reason we’ve rejoined is because we wanted to, so it’s a choice. And it was actually our choice. It was a request, and it was our choice to rejoin. And now, having done that, let’s have more adult relationships between everybody. It became a lot easier to get on with everybody, a lot easier to speak more honestly and open about things,” Dickinson added.
Gone are the days of petty conflicts and sulking; instead, there’s a commitment to open communication and understanding: “And also, not to get bent out of shape about things, about somebody has a bad day or somebody’s turned into a megalomaniac this afternoon. Just walk away, because tomorrow morning, they won’t be like that. Whereas back in the ’80s, we’d have had a fucking argument about it, or people would have gone away and sulked about it for weeks. And that just breeds resentment and discontent and things like that.”
“We’re in the state now where the band’s really successful, and we all get on, probably because — with the exception of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, who lived in the same street together when they were growing up — none of us would ever have met each other if it wasn’t for Iron Maiden. I would never have met Nicko McBrain. I would never have met Steve. What brings us all together is Maiden. So, this is a great place to be. We’re probably one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the world. We mean a huge amount — and I do understand that — to millions of people around the world. And what’s not to love about still being able to do it?” he concluded.
