“Bruce Dickinson Reflects on Quitting Iron Maiden in the ’90s, Creating Balls to Picasso and His Surprise Reggae Moment”
By Website Content Manager
“We caught up with Iron Maiden’s lead singer to discuss the period surrounding his second solo record, now freshly remixed and re-released.”
Metal Hammer recently caught up with Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson to reflect on the early stages of his solo career.
In the exclusive interview, the 67-year-old rocker opened up about what pushed him to branch out on his own in the late 1980s, the making of his first two records — Tattooed Millionaire (1990) and Balls to Picasso (1994) — and the impact of his hit single Tears of the Dragon.
According to Dickinson, his solo journey started unexpectedly while he was still performing with Maiden. He explained that his publishing company, Zomba, asked if he had any material that could work for a film project. “They came to me and said, ‘We know you like to do odd things. Do you have any tracks lying around for Nightmare on Elm Street?’ That turned into Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter,” he recalled.
Dickinson went on to describe reconnecting with guitarist Janick Gers during that time. “Janick was a mate of mine, and he was struggling to find a gig. He wouldn’t cut his hair, so he looked like he’d stepped straight out of the ’70s. He was so frustrated he was about to sell his gear and head off to uni to become a teacher,” Dickinson said.
The conversation then shifted to Balls to Picasso, the first album Dickinson released after stepping away from Maiden between 1993 and 1999. Looking back, he admitted the record didn’t fully deliver on its potential. “It was growing pains. The original version was too tentative — not as full-on as it needed to be. The label wanted Tattooed Millionaire part two, but that was never the plan,” he explained.
He noted the different influences at play during the recording process. “Shay [Baby, producer] sort of pulled back from making it really heavy. Roy Z wanted it heavier but didn’t feel he could push since he was the new guy. And I wasn’t sure exactly what direction to take, so I just went with the flow,” Dickinson said, reflecting on the album’s evolution leading up to its 2025 remix.
Dickinson’s updated version, More Balls to Picasso, was released on July 25. He’s currently touring North America with his solo band, with a stop at Dallas’ House of Blues set for tonight (Aug. 29). Looking ahead, he revealed he’s already working on his next original solo album, aiming for a 2027 release.