What Does This Button Do?

BRUCE DICKINSON: An Autobiography*

*May contain Flying Heavy Metal

If you’re going to read Bruce Dickinson’s latest book, What Does This Button Do?, you may anticipate that it’s going to be one of those all-life encompassing tomes, and you’d be half right. It’s an autobiography after all.

Dickinson is most famously known for his two decades-long tenures as the singer of Metal legends, Iron Maiden. But Bruce Bruce, as he was nicknamed early on, is so much more than that; pilot, writer, world-class fencer, radio host, and, of course, husband and dad.

Don’t look for too much on the wife and kiddies part of his life. It’s not there.

Had he included everything on everything, this book would have stretched Bruce’s story to well beyond its 367 pages. Starting at the end, he admits to having penned at least 50,000 more words on his life than made the final cut.

Into the telling of his story, Dickinson let’s his life experiences pour out of him, as if words are one of the fine ales he loves! I like that it’s written in the first person. Made it more fun to me.

Bruce and I are members of what I call the “Born in ’58 Club.” As an admitted Maiden fan, who got to intersect with them on multiple occasions in my career, we have that shared experience of events and changes in the world that comes with being born in the same year. That’s where Dickinson begins his journey, tying his roots to “Accident Of Birth,” one of his solo recordings. As someone of the same age, I truly enjoyed comparing where my life was along the timelines that the author uses to inform his reader.

He presents an inside look at the emerging scene from before he was singer for Samson. He gives insights into relationships among those playing the heavy stuff at that stage, including his relationship with Paul D’Anno (also born in ’58) whom he replaced in Maiden. There are some great stories about his time in Samson, showing Bruce’s sense of humor, which is often on display in this book. I mean, the title What Does This Button Do? alone is an apt and comedic choice. In ANY of Dickinson’s chosen areas of exploration, just pushing the right/wrong button could bring triumph or tragedy.

The humor with which he lives life comes through in every chapter of this look inside a Maiden mind. He talks about the goings on, behind the scenes, at important points in his own on/off relationship with Iron Maiden. Talk about buttons to push!

He gushes about his kindred spirit, manager Rod Smallwood, but not many other people. I was with Bruce and Adrian Smith in Raleigh, North Carolina on the night he mentions in the book. Working for his label, CMC International, I was hanging out after that show and added my voice to the chorus of people saying the pair should kiss and make up with Maiden founder Steve Harris. Several months later, the pair returned to the band. It’s been twenty years since their return. Guess I was right.

Beyond the music, Dickinson explains how he discovered and took on the art of fencing, the genesis of his Adventures Of Lord Iffy Boatrace books, and how he took a lifelong interest in flying to levels he only dreamed of. No mention of when he took me up flying while he worked on his flight instrument rating on his promo tour for his solo album, Balls To Picasso, however!

Along the way to piloting 747s for Astraeus Airlines, he also found himself on British radio, hosting programs, and effecting music content in the otherwise stodgy Brit media.

If you’re a fan, and are unaware of the fencing, radio work, or his time as a pilot, you really should read this book! And if you crave deep details on all things Maiden, you really should read this book!

So go ahead, just push the “Button!” I suspect that you’ll enjoy flying “Aces High” with Bruce!!!