Bruce Dickinson says that his claim that IRON MAIDEN was “better than METALLICA” was just about “throwing down the gauntlet” and wasn’t directly aimed at the San Francisco-based metal giants.
Now, in a brand new interview with Rolling Stone, Dickinson was asked for his current take on his past comments about the James Hetfield-fronted outfit.
He said:
“Look, I’m acutely conscious that when you say things in print, people are going to pick up on things. The stuff about METALLICA, quite frankly, was a really good windup. We have a great relationship with METALLICA. It wasn’t aimed at METALLICA. It was aimed at the rest of the world to say, ‘We’re back and we mean it. We mean it so much that we’re going to say something pretty outrageous, so why don’t you come to the show and find out. We dare you.’ It’s throwing down the gauntlet, and I’m the lead singer. It’s my job. It’s what I do.
“So is it arrogant? Uh, yeah,” he admitted.
“You’re the lead singer of IRON MAIDEN, and you’re going to be arrogant every now and again, because it kind of goes with the territory, yeah. Mick Jagger, is he arrogant? Yeah, probably — it’s Mick Jagger, for f*ck’s sake. Do I make a distinction between me walking down the street and me onstage with IRON MAIDEN? Yeah.”
Back in 2011, the IRON MAIDEN frontman elaborated on a past comment in which he boasted that his band was superior to METALLICA. Refusing to back down from the stance, he explained to Metal Hammer:
“I got into trouble for saying that we’re better than METALLICA… and it’s true. They might be bigger than us and they might sell more tickets than us and they might get more gold-plated middle-class bourgeoisie turning up to their shows, but they’re not MAIDEN. I did say it’s a bit of a windup. I thought, ‘If I’m going to turn into an a*shole, I might as well, you know, go for it.'”
92 comments
He ain’t lying
And they have a real drummer.
DUDE! Nicko plays almost the same beat in every song! LOL! I’m not saying Ulrich is a great drummer but, Nicko McBrain is no drum god either!! LMFAO
After a dumb comment like that I know not to take your word on anything in life.
I have seen both bands live maiden more simply cos they play more but Bruce in some ways are better they put more into there live shows but metallica. Why I started playing guitar
I’ve seen both bands live (Maiden 3 times). I’ve been a fan of Maiden and Metallica since they began. It’s just cool that nearly forty years on, these are still two of the biggest bands on the planet. Bang that head that does not bang!
With Maiden and Metallica on the same table, Metallica could be any dish but Maiden would always be the main course.
Ooofffff this is good
Iron Maiden is so much better than Metallica, houses of holy hell. Iron Maiden’s live show has no rival, and their sets just build and build into an epic culmination of their expansive history, experimentation, and nose-to-the-grindstone metal. Hearing songs like The Clansman, For the Greater Good of God, Brave New World, Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and tbe lists just go on and on. So many good songs, so many themes with powerful, intelligent lyrics layered on legendary music. Metallica was just the right place, right time American metal that was easy to jump into, simple to digest and comparatively boring. They have a few good albums specifically their early stuff, but most of their music just isn’t worth listening to more than once because it was just too basic or simple to ever care to hear it again. Maiden is the definition of metal. I understand Metallica is one of the big 4, but is in my opinion the weakest in the bunch.
I’m not an expert on Metal. Love some of Metallica’s early stuff, but for me it’s Maiden. Love Hallowed be thy Name. Trooper too. Just an astonishing piece of music IMO.
They are better than Metallica. Much much better.
Metallica was only good for their first 4 albums. That’s 6 years out of a nearly 40 year run.
And IM was only good until number of the beast
That is 3 years out of 45
Ok, you can add 5 more years
1 for powerslave
And 4 more with the great Blaze
Piece of mind was awesome, and they’ve had a strong resurgence in recent years.
But there’s no point in arguing since even going by your point of view only you admit they had 7 great albums, compared to Metallica’s 5.
I don’t think every Metallica album is good. They weren’t in top form at the end of Dickinson’s first run with the band, but they’ve put out some great stuff after he returned.
I’m not really interested in debating the highs and lows of Maiden’s discography, I just don’t think there’s any question as to which is the better band when compared to Metallica; I think Iron Maiden is way better and it isn’t even close.
I love Metallica’s first 4 albums, but after that they do nothing for me. They’re not particularly impressive live either, whereas live performance is one of Maiden’s strengths.
It’s all a matter of opinion of course. You’re perfectly entitled to disagree.
Hi Joseph,
It is nice to chat with someone reasonable.
I should mention I DO NOT like Metallica, I tried but it is not for me. Even Megadeath, with the GREAT Marty Friedman is not for me, but I do like some, very few, Megadeath songs.
It is a matter of taste.
When Piece of Mind came out I was a young 17 years old boy, IM fanatic fan, and I only liked Flight of Icarus.
Powerslave I liked a lot, felt like they had found a way to fit the (then) new drummer into their style, but for me Clive Burr is like Steve Harris, irreplaceable
SIT was a disapointment and Seven Son made me quit
then, in 2019 I heard X Factor properly and fell in love with Iron Bayley!
I tried really hard to listen to IM with Bruce again, including the albuns mentioned and the 3 guitar ones, 99% of the songs I can not even finish.
Have you head Blaze’s solo albuns? It is more Metallica style than IM. Silicon Messiah is something man, try it (if you have not)
take care mate!
Maiden is my preference but both produced great bass players Steve Harris and cliff Burton very different styles but both are just plain sick !!!!!!! and let’s not forget Paul Diano saw maiden in Germany with that guy in a small venue was a great night
I prefer Metallica, I know everyone only considers the first four albums as the best ones but one thing that’s guaranteed with Metallica regardless of if you listen to “Kill Em All” or “Hardwired..”they always try something new and have different sound and style to their music. Iron maiden on the other hand may put on an amazing show but every album sounds exactly the same to me
Over rated they’re fast and loud that’s it.
Tallica still play Mustaine’s songs after all these years ! Mustaine owns their souls.
The statement is a statement. It’s provocative. It’s insane. Nothing more.
In my opinion it’s stupid and not very wise to compare. We compare to either feel inferior or superior. And here to provoke. Why?
How do you measure. Waste of my time…
But iron maiden actually is better than Metallica
I don’t know, I would have said Metallica since I’ve been a fan since the lighting tour but Maiden isn’t changing lyrics to their songs. Master is a bad word? What about murder? Let’s get rid of that word. Torture? Let’s just grunt from now on.
There is no one better then Iron Maiden, they are better then Metillica. Anyone who really knows metal knows that.
Iron maiden is and always will be a superior band to Metallica. Iron maiden never sold out or changed. Metallica are the very definition of “sellout posers “….end of line
Have you heard 7th Son? They absolutely sold out. They both sold out for a time but they’re both back and doing their thing. Having said that based on live videos I’ve seen Iron Maiden is a far supior band live and probably always has been. The last time I saw them live, Metallica in 92 and Maiden in 88 they were both good but Maiden was better. I only listen to their old catalogs and to me at that time they were vastly different and both great bands.
I disagree (respectfully) I think 7th son was a great album. Yes it’s no power slave, or number of the beast but it has some outstanding workmanship. Also I think it was a little experimental. I do put it on from time to time, but not Metallica. I dont even listen to them anymore.
I like them both. That’s the beauty of music, eye of the beholder. I can appreciate the talent that goes into an album like 7th sun I just thought they were going in a commercial direction I didn’t want them to go. I dont like synthesizers in my metal. I like Metallicas first 4 albums and Maidens first six , the first 3 being my favorites. Somwhere in time on the border for me. I admit I haven’t checked out any of Maidens stuff after 7th sun, probably missing out on some good stuff.
7th son is a masterpeice!! Just listen to there lyrics alone… metallic cant write lyrics and make music like that. Period…
I think metallica are better song writers and their songs dont have to be about the supernatural or war. Fade to black, the unforgiven, nothing else matters are based on just being human and people can relate to it. I do think maiden is the better live band
Sounds like what you’re really saying here is that you think Metallica has better, or at least broader, lyrical subject matter.
That’s a fair argument I think. But the fact that Metallica is probably more sophisticated lyrically doesn’t mean they’re better song writers. I think Maiden writes better music.
Musically, Metallica lost their edge after AJFA.
Yes. Ajfa was not too good and that was it for them…the 5.98 ep with crash course was better.
Iron maiden stopped their quality material after somewhere in time., though some might argue 7th son. I didn’t think powerslave was any good save 3 /4 songs and definitely not the 15 minute snoozefest. Lol
Megadeth…even with mustaine’s sometimes questionable vocals, are equal in terms of elite metal. Psbwb/rip.
You are retarded
No. I don’t think so.
It’s a matter of taste I believe. For me iron maiden is one of the bands that started power metal and a lot of those types of songs sound cheesy to me. I am just more of a fan of the more aggressive thrash sound and the versatility of metallica to do something different
there is no fact….maidens lyrics and music destroy metallica and there is a lot more of it. Metallica cant carry maiden jock in a wheel barrel!
Imho, apples to oranges. Both are equally good, just a bit different in their approaches.
One thing is for certain Iron Maiden’s t-shirts are way better than Metallica’s.
Bullshit
Iron Maiden are a thousand times better than Metallica, I like Metallica, but come on – Up the Irons!
Iron maiden is campy at best. They have 5 good songs. The rest is garbage
That was about the stupidest statement yet…5 songs? You mean just off first album!
Since Maiden came first, and Metallica would not have been sucsessful without Maiden paving the way, and might not even be a band without the NWOBHM, I would say Maiden gets top billing. Maiden influenced Metallica, not the other way around.
Maiden has always been better live( saw them both for the first time in 86). As far as musical talent I don’t even think its close. Kirk is great but Maidens vocals and especially drumming are way better. Maiden has more great albums(I score it 7 to 4)
If you had asked me in 89 I would gave said Metallica. 30 years later I think Maiden is the better band.
I’ll say right now the Metallica fan club is the only fan club I ever belonged to granted it was 25 years ago but I love me some Metallica! However iron maiden was the band that turned me on to metal music. And as far as musical ability iron maiden has it. I think every one of maiden’s guitar players is leaps and bounds better than Kirk sorry Kirk I love you but… In fact I think every musician is better in maiden but Metallica caters well I shouldn’t say caters but Metallica delivers a certain… Barebones ,primal sound that just guys you deep in the soul.like somebody else in here said apples and oranges both amazing and I would not be the same person I was today without either and let’s not forgot Ozzy and all of his bandmates through the years
IIRON MAIDEN is better!! Some people want to say Metallica is better because their first three albums were so revolutionary. That’s not enough! Metallica has not release a good album since Black, heck since Master, while Iron Maiden has been more consistent. Second, Metallica’s live shows really don’t sound good. They’ve become very mundane and none of the old guys have grown as Musicians. Sloppy finger work. Sloppy timing. Its gotten to the point we’re going to a Metallica show is “Meh”. At least Dave Mustaine and Junior have grown. Megadeth live performances are way more clean and so is Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden is great to hear live and their shows are far more creative And Fresh. It’s not like hearing all the same old Nostalgic lineups With the same old big screens. Sure Maiden will play their old stuff. Everyone does. But with Iron Maiden, you get a fresh show every time. Some of their albums are outstanding and, yes, some need work. But their love to write songs about History gives them so many topics and themes to explore. I dare Metallica to give us something fresh.
Dave and Dave are amazing to see live. Megadeth is so much better than Metallica, and let not forget that mustaine wrote half of Metallicas first two albums.
I agree, iron maiden is better
Bruce Dickinson is the lead singer in Iron
Maiden.HE SHOULD SAY IRON MAIDEN IS
BETTER!! James Hetfield would say Metallica is Better and Dave Mustain would say Megadeth is better.
…grunt
SLAYER. Period. Full stop.
And Metallica is, and has always been, overrated. Megadeth is far superior to Metallica, as is Maiden. Big four? Pfft! Big 5, in order of superiority: Slayer, Megadeth, Maiden, Anthrax, Metallica. Fight me.
Big 4 of American thrash metal. Maiden would not belong, even if expanded to 5. You’d probably have to put Pantera in there, even though they didn’t really become thrash until Metallica had already thrown in the towel on thrash. They basically carried the torch through the 90s. Oh and Priest is better than Maiden. Fight me!
Sarcasm. But then you’re a priest fan, so…
Megadeth tops that list.
I can agree to that, however I’m a die-hard Slayer guy, which is why I never bet on sports, my White Sox, Blackhawks and Steelers always seem to let me down.
This entire discussion is completely ridiculous. Maiden is Maiden….Metallica is Metallica. Applez and orangez! No need to compare…..both are to be enjoyed. But Bruce is yet again being a tad arrogant. Surprise surprise….
I’m confident Maiden could easily play any Metallica song as well as Metallica. I don’t think Metallica could do that with Maiden songs. James can’t come close to Bruce as a singer or frontman. Also, Bruce flys Ed Force One. Major flex. Lars looks up to Nicko’s abilities, and he’s said that in interviews. So he already conceeds the point. None of this means Metallica sucks though. They had some great albums up to and including the Black Album. Maidens new stuff isn’t all gold either. Maiden is just a better band musically.
Their musical styles are very different so I don’t see a need for comparison.
Well, both Maiden and Metallica are like 5 levels below Megadeth. Comparing them is not stupid, it’s just useless.
Love some megadeth. Not megadeath…lol
Metallica’s first 4 albums to me are better than anything Iron Maiden released. But almost every Iron Maiden album is superior to the Black album and all Metallica albums after that. So to me it is a push, Metallica at their best was superior but Iron Maiden had more consistency and staying power.
thats your opinion…and not true at all!
Metallica sold out along time ago iron maiden keeps going and sticks to their roots and even their latest album. Is incredible music
Metallic doesn’t have an argument
Iron Maiden has more interesting lyrical content. Player for player Iron Maiden again has the clear advantage. Metallica is good at producing and marketing albums, but live is where you can really differentiate who is better. Maiden has better stage presence, tighter sound, better vocals, drums and bass playing. Not a big Kirk Hammett fan but I’d say he’s up there with the Maiden guitarists… Both bands have some good and so so albums. Metallica has more commercial hits, but Maiden is waaay better live…so I have to go with maiden ftw.
I bet I would see every single person arguing in this thread about who’s better to both bands’ gigs. You would all go to a Metallica gig just like you would all go to and Iron Maiden gig. Stop being hypocrites and enjoy the music.
Iron Maiden wish they were better than Metallica, but it’s just not true. In fact, they’re quite overrated.
??
Iron maiden is definitely better than metalica… absolutely!!! Song writing. Better guitar players better drummer. Better singer. Iron maiden are better than judas priest also… even the drummer from metallic made a comment that iron maiden are better. And pual stanley from kiss also stated thst iron maiden are the best band out there!!!
Who is better is subjective, both elite A league bands.
No. priest is better, better singer, better drummer, better songs, heavier, with more attitude, they are more “metal”. Maiden are very good but too melodic
I strongly disagree…judas priest are so boring live…. thats why kk left the band.. He said they had no energy on stage…. ive been at the priest shows glen was never as good at his guitar solos live . He was so boring..actually kk was better and kk left also because glen was taking all the solos.. read his book… rob just stands there on stage… bruce runs circles around rob.. rob needs a teleprompter because he forgets the lyrics to breaking the law .. lmao
Kks priest his new band will probably destroy judas priest…
Sorry but lars is a hell if a drummer
Iron maiden will always be better than Metallica. I dont recall one time that iron maiden ever sold out or sued their fans for downloading their music.
Iron maiden has sold most of their tours, that’s the only selling out Metallica has done as well, on tour… Metallica is as heavy as Maiden so how can there two different views
To those still getting their panties in a twist 30 yrs after the ” Metallica-napster dont download you sold out” nonsense …get a life. That’s ancient history. Im sure people still did it regardless and no true metallica fan would start crying over a small issue.
Metallica was right about Napster…., if folks really care about the bands they’d buy their music proper and support them. Sure the big bands can still survive…but there’s no denying the small guys can’t put bread on the table and make a living at it any more.
Really?. You have NEVER borrowed, or been lent an album/CD, from a friend?..You bought the CD/Album isn’t it now yours? Why can’t you give it to a friend. Imagine how many more people were introduced to various genres of music and bands by listening or DL’ing a song…I know I’ve purchased albums in the past, yep, we had vinyl…LOL, and there was 1-2-3 good songs on it….I found the file sharing to be a way of sampling other bands one would not normally buy an album of….Then maybe after trying a song, you may actually get the album…..OH well
Both Elite A league bands….good competition. maiden influenced Metallica.
So damn true
seen Maiden less than 10 times and metallica another 10 live since the late 80’s …Maiden aint a mosh pit band thats for sure. Dickinson sometimes looks bored on stage while Hetfield enjoys being on tour. Love em both. I dont remember metallica relying on an inflatable mascot named Eddie to get a crowd pop which I find stupid. Even Megadeth doesnt rely on that crap. Just effing play hard man.
Well it´s very simple… Metallica makes Iron Maiden covers, not the other way around…
Ouch! So true my friend
Iron maiden have a better drummer, 3 guitar players and steve harris and bruce Dickinson probably the greatest frontman of our generation…i mean this is a no brainer guys…. seriously lol.
The only issue i have with maiden and im sure everyone agrees with me is there horrible production of there cds.. kevin shirely is just aweful…. there sound is all muddy. Dosent even sound like heavy metal… i quote adrian smith saying there abulms sound undercooked… so why is he still the producer???!!! Adrian was saying he was so rushed … huge red flag. Fire him..
i dread the new cd coming out… kevin shirely producing again… i promise the maiden fans its not going to sound good unfortunately
also i gotta make this comment the lead guitar player for mettalica takes guitar lessons from joe Satriani. Correct.. He should be an incredible guitar player and hes just not…thats embarrassing… he should be playing like george lynch or be some type of guitar god by now… seriously think about it… just embarrassing!!
he TOOK lessons from Satriani, like 40 odd years ago. Also, he has written some epic solo’s. Go and listen to Ride the Lightning, Disposable Hero’s, One, Fade to Black and Sanitarium again and tell me he isn’t good. He’s old and lazy now, doesn’t discredit what he did for music.
Taking guitar lessons, 30+ years ago from the absolute best guitar player to grace the planet isn’t embarrassing. Kirk is an outstanding guitar player.
Thought this was appropriate,
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
To me, they’re both amazing. I side with Maiden because if even the latest album is really fantastic.
Metallica “sound” technically superior… between them, they have the best bass guitarists in metal.
But, let’s face it, with the world going down the drain, I’m really happy we have both of them.
(yeah, still prefer Maiden) 😀
As an amateur rocket scientist, Maiden. Love me some pre Load ‘Tallica, but, over all, Maiden has so many more albums that were amazing. Sorry, not sorry.
i don’t even like iron maiden, and i agree with him.
they are a million times more “pure” than metallica.