During a recent appearance on the Rich Roll Podcast, Bruce Dickinson, the iconic frontman of Iron Maiden, reflected on his battle with throat cancer and discussed the band’s ongoing dedication to its independence. He also opened up about the possibility of being replaced by another singer during his treatment.
“When I had throat cancer [a decade ago], the last thing on my mind was, would I ever sing again?” Dickinson recalled. “The first thing on my mind was, am I gonna get through this and be alive? The idea of singing again didn’t even cross my mind initially. I thought, ‘Well, I’ll deal with that when I get through this, and if I can start singing again.’”
Dickinson went on to share that he was mentally prepared for the worst outcome. “I was quite prepared to accept that I might not be able to sing with Iron Maiden again. I might be able to vocalize, or perhaps sing in a different way. But if I couldn’t sing the way I’ve always sung with Iron Maiden, I would help them find a great replacement. The music is sacrosanct,” he added, emphasizing the importance of the band’s legacy.
In an earlier interview with iNews, Dickinson revealed that he decided to include the details of his cancer diagnosis and treatment in his autobiography, What Does This Button Do?, to help raise awareness of the disease.
Following months of intensive treatment, including 33 radiation sessions and nine weeks of chemotherapy, Dickinson shared his relief after receiving the “all-clear” from his doctors. “I was amazed,” he said, recounting how an MRI scan revealed that the tumor was gone. “My cancer was a 3.5-centimeter tumor in my throat, and a 2.5-centimeter tumor in my lymph node — that was the one I could feel, the secondary one. But after all the treatment, it was gone. I asked my oncologist, ‘What do you mean it’s gone? Where has it gone?’ He just said, ‘Well, your body gets rid of it. The body is an amazing thing.’”
Bruce’s recovery has not only inspired his fans, but it has also allowed him to return to music. His latest solo album, The Mandrake Project, was released in March through BMG. Meanwhile, Iron Maiden continues its global tour, with a stop at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight. The band’s The Future Past tour will wrap up on December 7 in São Paulo, Brazil. Afterward, they will embark on their highly anticipated Run For Your Lives Tour, beginning on May 25 in Budapest, Hungary.
