What does Bruce Dickinson think of Metallica?
Asked by: Francis Weissnat | Last update: April 14, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (15 votes)
Bruce Dickinson respects Metallica, especially their Black Album success, acknowledging they had the guts to reach a wider audience when Iron Maiden and others didn't, though he's also known for playful jabs, famously claiming Iron Maiden "is better than Metallica" as a promotional stunt to generate buzz. He admires their commercial achievement but also sees them as a different style, with Iron Maiden often playing more complex music.
What did Bruce Dickinson say about Metallica?
Bruce once said Iron Maiden is better than Metallica
They might be bigger than us and they might sell more tickets than us. They might get more gold-plated middle-class bourgeousie turning up to their shows. But they're not Maiden,” he said in an interview with Metal Hammer in 2011.
What is Bruce Dickinson's favorite band?
“Purple were probably my favorite Metal band,” he told the journalist in 1999. The Iron Maiden vocalist has been a huge fan of the British band since he was a young kid. Ian Gillan is his biggest hero when it comes to singing.
What song does Metallica refuse to play?
Metallica famously refused to play the song "Escape" from their album Ride the Lightning for decades, due to label pressure, its different style, and key issues, only performing it once live in 2012 at their own festival before deciding it wasn't for them. While other songs have been rarely played, "Escape" stands out as the one they actively disliked and avoided for a long time, though many songs from albums like Reload and St. Anger are also seldom performed live due to various reasons.
Is Iron Maiden bigger than Metallica?
Metallica has 25 million listeners to Maidens 7 million. Maiden and Metallica essentially the same on album sales depending on what site you look at, and touring revenue is not close with Metallica making far more. I prefer Maiden, but Metallica is the biggest hard rock/metal band ever.
Lars Ulrich on Metallica's first Iron Maiden Encounter [Deleted Scene from LA Metal Scene Explodes]
Who is Metallica's biggest rival?
Metallica's biggest historical rival is Megadeth, a feud born from Dave Mustaine's acrimonious departure from Metallica, fueling intense competition in the thrash metal scene, with both bands vying for the title of best metal band, though the rivalry has softened in recent years, with fans often debating which band is superior in technicality versus mainstream success.
Does James Hetfield believe in Jesus?
He also has some Christian tattoos, including crosses and one of Jesus on his right arm. He has a tattoo of two razors forming the straight edge X symbol on his left wrist. The first single Hetfield ever bought was "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
What did Nirvana think of Metallica?
One revelation, however, surprised even longtime followers: Cobain loved Metallica's Ride the Lightning. Cobain's personal listening habits were as eclectic as his songwriting. He was known for admiring underground punk, noisy indie rock, and obscure pop artists, but Metallica wasn't a band he ever publicly praised.
Who is the #1 metal band in the world?
While "number one" is subjective, Metallica is overwhelmingly considered the biggest and most successful metal band globally due to massive record sales (over 180M+ units), mainstream crossover success with The Black Album, and consistent touring/streaming dominance, often cited by Forbes and industry analyses as the top band. Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Linkin Park, and Slayer are also frequently mentioned among the genre's elite.
Is Bruce Dickinson a polymath?
Yes, Bruce Dickinson is widely considered a polymath (a person with expertise in many different subjects) due to his diverse accomplishments as Iron Maiden's frontman, a commercial airline pilot, an author, screenwriter, entrepreneur, brewer, and fencer, often described as a modern-day Renaissance man.
What did Freddie Mercury think of Led Zeppelin?
Freddie Mercury had immense respect for Led Zeppelin, calling them the "greatest band of all time" and Robert Plant his "favourite singer," often citing them as major influences, with Queen even feeling jealous of their early success and trying to capture their sound, while Plant praised Mercury's unique performance. Their mutual admiration culminated in Plant joining Queen at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert to perform "Innuendo," incorporating Zeppelin's "Kashmir".
What is Metallica's angriest song?
Metallica's angriest songs often include tracks from the St. Anger album like "Frantic," "Dirty Window," and "All Within My Hands," alongside thrash classics such as "Dyer's Eve," "Damage, Inc.," and "Battery," known for raw aggression, intense riffs, and themes of frustration, betrayal, and societal critique.
What was James Hetfield diagnosed with?
James Hetfield has publicly discussed his long-term struggles with addiction (alcoholism), anxiety, and depression, leading him to seek rehab multiple times, most recently in late 2019, to focus on his health and sobriety journey, which is ongoing. He has also dealt with physical issues like tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and past burns from a stage accident in 1992, but his primary public health battles have centered on mental health and substance abuse recovery.
What songs are mocking God?
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- Take Me to Church.
- Tell Me Why (Genesis song)
- Terrible Lie.
- There Is Power in a Union.
- To Kill the Child/Leaving Beirut.
- A Token of My Extreme.
- Told You So (Depeche Mode song)
- Tomorrow Wendy (song)
What singer no longer believes in God?
Jon Steingard, the former lead singer of the Christian band Hawk Nelson, publicly announced in May 2020 that he no longer believes in God after years of personal doubt, a decision he shared on Instagram and discussed in various interviews, explaining his journey of deconstruction from his religious upbringing.
What does Judas Priest think of Metallica?
That's what I love about them." Judas Priest's Rob Halford heaps praise on Metallica for their pure love of heavy metal.
What is James Hetfield struggling with?
James Hetfield has struggled with addiction, anxiety, and self-doubt, often speaking openly about these battles, which have led to rehab stints (like in 2019) and on-stage emotional moments, showcasing vulnerability and inspiring fans by sharing his journey with insecurity, substance abuse, and the pressures of being a rock icon.
What is Lars Ulrich's favorite band?
Having led a campaign for several years to get his longtime favorite band, Deep Purple, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ulrich delivered the induction speech when the band went into the Hall in 2016.
Who is the #1 rock band of all time?
There's no single official #1 rock band, but The Beatles are most frequently cited as the greatest due to unparalleled sales, influence, and cultural impact, often followed by bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Queen in various lists based on sales, impact, or subjective opinion. While The Beatles dominate general lists, Led Zeppelin is often called the #1 hard rock band, and others like Pink Floyd, The Who, AC/DC, and Metallica also rank highly.
Who is bigger, AC/DC or Metallica?
It's a close call, but AC/DC generally edges out Metallica in overall album sales and platinum records, especially with massive sellers like Back in Black, while Metallica often leads in Grammy wins, overall cultural "biggest" status in metal, and massive, consistently successful stadium tours, making them arguably bigger within the metal genre's elite. Both are titans, with AC/DC often seen as ultimate hard rock, while Metallica defined thrash metal and expanded into stadium rock.
What is the loudest metal song ever?
Loudest Metal Ever
- Don't Need You (Edit) Bullet for My Valentine. 4:24.
- Bleeding Mascara. Atreyu. 2:27.
- Mass Darkness. Ihsahn. 3:53.
- The Veil Of Isis. The Sword. 5:33.
- The World Without Us. Entheos. 4:16.
- If You Got It At Five, You Got It At Fifty. Norma Jean. 2:18.
- The Sinking Chair. Royal Thunder. 3:55.
- Sand. He Is Legend. 2:36.
Who are the big 3 in metal?
The "Big 3 of Metal" isn't a single definitive group, but commonly refers to Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden for classic Heavy Metal's foundational figures, or Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer (or Anthrax) for Thrash Metal's influential titans (part of the "Big 4"), while Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, and Dream Theater are often called the "Big 3 of Progressive Metal".
What song is 23 minutes long?
A well-known 23-minute song is Pink Floyd's "Echoes," which fills the entire second side of their album Meddle, while Genesis's "Supper's Ready" is close at 22:54; other long tracks around that length include Stereolab's "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse" (17:32) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor's "We Drift Like Worried Fire" (20:07). If you're looking for an actual track named "23 Minutes," it might be a playlist or a specific artist's compilation, as there isn't one single famous song by that exact title, though many long pieces exist.