Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson Reveals Cancer Battle, Now in Remission
Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson has revealed he was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and lymph nodes, successfully undergoing nine weeks of chemotherapy and achieving remission. The singer, 66, detailed his experiance in a recent interview, explaining the cancer was discovered during the recording of Iron Maiden’s 2015 album, “The Book of Souls.”
Dickinson described the tumor as “a golf ball living in the base of my tongue,” and noted that singing with it initially didn’t feel significantly different, though he sensed “something wrong in my body.” Crucially, tests confirmed the cancer had not metastasized.
“The ‘M’ bit is, has it metastasized? In other words, spread to anywhere else in your body. and luckily the answer to that was zero,” Dickinson stated.
Following treatment, Dickinson admitted regaining his vocal ability took time. “I’m the world’s most impatient man, and tried to sing after about six months, and I was shocked how awful it sounded,” he said. “It sounded like a wounded buffalo.”
Dickinson appears to be fully recovered, recently spotted performing a cover of Judas priest’s “You’ve Got Another thing Comin'” with a street performer in New Orleans, Louisiana, according to MetalInsider.net.
The diagnosis and treatment prompted a temporary pause in Iron Maiden’s touring schedule in 2015, but the band has since resumed extensive global performances. Dickinson continues to front the iconic British heavy metal band, known for hits like “The Trooper” and “run to the hills.”