Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson regretted not punching Guns N’ Roses vocalist Axl Rose during and long after a show back in 1988
Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson isn’t known for being a violent man. In fact, he’s one of the coolest, most down-to-earth and polite people you’d ever hope to meet. However, this didn’t stop “the air raid siren” from wishing he had punched out Axl Rose by smashing him straight in the mouth.
Guns N’ Roses opened for Iron Maiden at the Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada on May 16, 1988. According to the Journal De Montreal interview, Bruce Dickinson was asked: Axl Rose treated the audience poorly that night. Why? “Because the crowd was speaking to Axl in French, which tends to happen in French Canada.”
Axl Rose jumps into the crowd and attacks fan during Rocket Queen (Guns n’ Roses Smackdown Riot)
Bruce Dickinson didn’t take kindly to the apparent disrespect by Axl Rose to Iron Maiden’s audience, tempting the legendary vocalist to give Axl a proper beat-down.
“I should have come onstage and given him a punch, how could he dare speak to my audience in that way? I always regretted not having done so.” – Bruce Dickinson
Axl Rose Disrespecting Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson also spoke of the moment he learned his battle against tongue and throat cancer had been successful. “A huge relief, I was unable to speak. I did not know what to do. Should I scream my joy? It was the biggest news I had ever received in my life … Right now, I’m at the stage of healing, so I have not sung except sometimes at home. Fortunately, the power is still there. Notes too.”
Meanwhile, Iron maiden have announced the release of a double live album. Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live In Mexico City was recorded across three sold-out shows in September of 2019, and will come out on November 20 via Parlophone Records. Get your hands on a copy here.