Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson delivered a memorable performance of the U.S. national anthem when the Los Angeles Kings faced off against the Colorado Avalanche on October 7 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event was part of the NHL’s opening day for the regular season, marking the third of three games aired on ESPN.
On October 27, the official LA Kings YouTube channel released an eight-minute behind-the-scenes video showcasing Dickinson’s experience at the arena, capturing his preparation and interactions before the performance.
This wasn’t the first time Bruce Dickinson performed the anthem at a major sporting event. Earlier in the fall, he sang The Star-Spangled Banner on September 14 before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Dickinson first hinted at his NFL anthem debut during an interview with soprano Elizabeth Zharoff, where he shared, “I’ll let you in to a secret. So, I’ve got to sing the national anthem in Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve asked me to do this. I’m going to do it a cappella and stuff, and as long as you start at the right place, you’re good to go.”
The singer first took on the U.S. national anthem earlier this year during his solo concert on September 11 at the House of Blues in Boston. Before beginning, he told the audience: “So I’m gonna let you in to a dirty little secret that is gonna happen on Sunday. I’ve been asked to sing the American national anthem at a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Now, I’ve never done this before in my fucking life, and I’m trying to avoid the embarrassment of reading the fucking words off the back of my hand. Look, no writing on the back of my hand, or failure to read the auto cue because, fuck me, there is no auto cue, all right?! So because today is the kind of — it can’t have escaped your attention that today is 9/11, right? And on this day, on that day, I was in New York City and I witnessed all the shit that happened.”
He went on to explain: “So normally I do a little bit of like an a cappella — that’s just me singing on my own — a bit of [the Iron Maiden song] “Revelations”. But I thought, with your kind permission, I would have a go at the American national anthem, because it’s the only fucking time I’m gonna practice it.”
Dickinson also shared a lighthearted moment from his recent trip to Brazil. “We were down in Brazil [a few days ago for a festival appearance] and I was talking to the punk band, mates of mine, Bad Religion,” he said. “And the guy went, ‘Oh, you’re gonna sing the anthem?’ He said, ‘Fucking make sure you start low.’”
The crowd joined him as he sang several lines of The Star-Spangled Banner a cappella, creating an impromptu and heartfelt moment.
From the concert stage to the sports arena, Bruce Dickinson continues to showcase his unique ability to bring passion and power to any setting — proving once again that even national anthems can rock.
