A chance meeting at the Reading Festival of 1981 saw Bruce, who had been lead singer with British rock band Samson, being asked to audition for Iron Maiden. He is only 5′ 7″ but his impact saw Iron Maiden become superstars. He is called the ‘Air Raid Siren’ by Maiden fans because of his powerful vocal style. A licenced pilot and accredited Captain, Bruce flies Ed1 – Iron Maiden’s own 757 between gigs. He is also a fencing expert having represented the UK at the European Cup in 1989. Less known is that the young Bruce Dickinson was expelled from Oundle boarding school after he pissed in the baked beans being served to the prefects and his headmaster.