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Bruce Dickinson

From page 108 of Classic Rock Magazine November 2001

Cover of November 2001 issue.

The Best Of...'

(Sanctuary)

Dickinson himself will never admit it, but his often boorish solo career frequently drew stifling yawns from bemused critics while they waited for him to inevitably get back to doing what he does best — fronting Iron Maiden.

Now, as he once more sets sail on the solo sea while the battleship Maiden is in dry dock, this is a chance to peruse the Dickinson highlights, as it were.

Surprisingly, his biggest solo venture, singing 'Elected' with Mr Bean, has been left off, as has his terrible ode to cunnilingus 'Dive, Dive, Dive', No.45 in 1990. Most of the other leaden macho tracks from albums with waggish titles like 'Accident At Birth' and 'Balls To Picasso' are here, although unfortunately there's only one track, 'Back from The Edge', from the immensely worthwhile `Skunkworks' album.

A bonus disc offers some rare and live material, including the original demo of Maiden's 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter' and their comeback 'The Wicker Man', barely recognisable next to the Maiden version. Both 'Darkness Be My Friend' and 'Acoustic Song' take a break from the undaunted chest-beating, displaying Bruce's fondness for prog, and they're well worth checking out, being far more interesting than two new tracks also included.

A 'Best Of', then? Hmmm... ***** Jerry Ewing