Bruce should've just written a plot outline and let someone write the proper story, plenty of celebrity backed comics work like that.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I think his ego would never let that happen. It is his brilliant story, therefore he is the one who will write it. A bit like his Chemical Wedding film…
Which feels weird that he didn't do it before. Bruce's writing feels very well suited for comics. I do have to wonder how would the world react if he'd released something like the Iffy Boatrace book these days. I remember reading it when I was 14 or something like that and feeling a great sense of second hand embarassment.
I would have found that better. To deliver something worthy of discussion on the topics addressed, an author would have to do an enormous amount of research into the current state of the natural sciences and philosophy or cooperate with actual experts in the fields.
They thought this was a special case because devoted fans would buy anything that came from Bruce for many years.
GhostofCain
Ancient Mariner
I bought Bruce’s books as a collector to complete my collection but found them so embarrassingly bad that I sold them on ebay after reading them. Absolutely godawful, even taking them as lighthearted pieces of writing.
I don't think it was mentioned again. On Facebook he doesn't respond to comments on this. For other projects he sometimes replies or gives a like. I also expected you hear something at the end of the year if he was working on it instead of touring.
Wonder if there will be new material played on the tour next fall? I'm not a fan of the Mandrake Project and I'm hoping for new songs.
Wonder if there will be new material played on the tour next fall? I'm not a fan of the Mandrake Project and I'm hoping for new songs.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Nope. Someone should ask Bruce next year. It seems Roy has started running his other projects, but I think the remixes will be released eventually because they have already started working on them and I guess they will be popular. Despite what is going on between them. Roy is not part of the live band so the remixes should be ready by now? I doubt he would reply if asked.
Why not, it's the 2nd leg of the album tour. Maybe some different ones from it. New songs for the tour? Very likely, the rotation ones probably. Still some stuff to return and debut (TOS). Philip already asked which songs the fans want to hear.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
I think just 1 comic with 10 short stories and different covers inspired by the songs titles would have been cool and enough. Like his original idea. I hope in the future he doesn't make albums tied with comics because the focus should be mainly on the music, no unfinished material again. He's a good storyteller and said that's what he likes the most, but the comics work and should be unique for TMP only. For bonus things, well, bonus songs...
He's probably not in a hurry, but I wonder how long it will take him to release another album now. After the tour, 2027 at the earliest, but what if he plans to tour in 2026 as well (3rd leg??) or won't because of Maiden's big tour.
Ascendingthethrone
Ancient Mariner
I had a funny moment the other day. I had just finished a carol service at one of the primary schools I teach at. As I got into the car, Afterglow of Ragnarok was playing on Plant Rock. Talk about a contrast!
I used to be interested in the remixes, but I now don't think they will see the light of day. At least not done by Roy Z. He or Bruce would have mentioned them again; e. g. that some of it will be released in 2025.
I believe they had falling-outs before but what on earth has happen this time.
Maybe Roy will write his explosive autobiography one day.
I believe they had falling-outs before but what on earth has happen this time.
Maybe Roy will write his explosive autobiography one day.
Sth2112
Ancient Mariner
The remixes could possibly be done already, as it takes about a month to properly remix a album. They are just laying around until the Mandrake tour is over is my guess.
TaaviMaiden
Educated Fool
Do you mean after the tour in autumn 2025? But then this work would have been finished for a year or more. Wouldn't that be very unusual (except in circumstances like the pandemic)?
By the way Roy Z mentioned a project with Arthur Brown.
Is it this:
By the way Roy Z mentioned a project with Arthur Brown.
Is it this:
DorotheaMe
Nomad
But it was announced as important project with a big name. That can't be only one song. I expect more to be released of the collaboration with Arthur Brown in 2025.
Maybe Bruce should work with Arthur Brown too? He always names him as an important influence.
Maybe Bruce should work with Arthur Brown too? He always names him as an important influence.
TaaviMaiden
Educated Fool
Yes, that's right, I also found it questionable. I'm probably just surprised that you hear so little about all the results of these projects (A. Brown, remixes).
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
This, whatever Bruce will do will be after the end of the Mandrake tour. And since he said he can't wait to show the demos to his solo band, then he doesn't even need to write new material, they'll just record them. Or with 1-2 brand new songs like for TMP. Plus he put down some new ideas earlier this year with Roy. If he's not busy with Maiden in the studio, in 2026/2027 is very possible, but it also depends on Maiden. I think working with Roy again about anything is 50/50, maybe this time Bruce won't make a compromise, but he would like to use their written material since he mentioned the demos.
Speaking of Roy's projects, he wrote the music for the famous one, but no solo! Weak production. Now his other project - the band Anguish Project with a lead singer the guy from a Maiden Brazil tribute band(!). He's the producer and mixer and it sounds like TMP but even more modern. It's powerful, so good. Given the Resurrection Men-rhythm of the pre-chorus, I think he co-wrote it. The first single is a very cool song with a longer solo, this is the type of material (and solos) I expected from him and Bruce. Heavy but melodic. It's a proggy tune with an early 2000's vibe. I will note this band.
Edit: apparently no writing contribution from Roy.
Last edited:
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
New interview with Bruce for Record Collector mag, if anyone can find it:
metalinjection.net
I accidentally found an interview from last year before the release of TMP (I don't think we've shared it here). The most curious bits:
Lots of extra material from the new album sessions, the approach/style of the songs was intentional (different vibes he likes), Eternity and Resurrection Men were the only songs part of the original concept (so the latter was shown to Steve for sure), the new album allows him to be even more adventurous with the next one (which is certain, but he don't know when), he really likes the album (even more than TCW!) and Sonata (called it his most emotional song on record), he might play more new songs this year if he tours Europe again.
His favorite Maiden albums are -> the first 7 (SSOASS is probably his favorite, with POM on close second), BNW, AMOLAD and SJ (rather live)!
norwayrock.net
BRUCE DICKINSON Recalls First Time Seeing IRON MAIDEN Playing Live: "I Remember Thinking, 'Good God, I'd Love To Front That Band"
"I'd heard rumors about how good they were, and I thought I'd better see them."
metalinjection.net
I accidentally found an interview from last year before the release of TMP (I don't think we've shared it here). The most curious bits:
The album is a musical and emotional journey. If there’s any concept, then that’s it.
Then it was 10 years or something daft before we got together in 2014, and then another 7 before we actually got together and finished it. By this time, we had lots of extra material, most of which we didn’t use because we already had 8 of the 10 songs. We thought it would be heavy and a bit out of the box.
I thought that was a great title for an album, so I wrote the song. At that point I was considering a concept album, so I put a bit of narration in that sounded okay. I put a story together and generated characters who were bringing back a human soul and reinserting them into someone else. I wrote “Resurrection Men” and there’s a little Hawkwind vibe, great stuff to sing. But I hadn’t got into great detail into anything. So it was left half done.
Going back to the album, I thought there was no point making it into a concept album because I already had that on the comic. Let’s make music our concept. I wanted to have a few mad Tarantino, Ennio Morricone moments and unexpected twists and turns, bongos. Every one of the songs on the record is a favourite. Every song has a different character.
We were doing comics for the Legacy of the Beast game, which were beautifully drawn with super bright colours. We had a great female character but there was no story. That’s going to get people to stick with it. Stories do that.
Personally I thought the book was very cool. I did Revelations on it with Tony Lee as a bit of a dummy run, working together. It was a good practice before the main event. I love to be involved in all that stuff. The big daddy of all of it is “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son”. I would love to pull all that together as one story. Whether or not there’s an appetite for it is a different case. “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” in particular could be super cool.
I would have said Chemical Wedding for my solo work, but that was before this record. This record genuinely moves the goal posts for where we can go next. There will be a next, but we don’t know where that is yet. That’s part of the fun. If was going to be bold, I would say the last track on this record, Sonata. It is different to other tracks, and the way it was recorded, it’s the most emotional thing that’s been put on record for me. There’s no galloping bit in the middle. For Maiden, all of those first albums up to and including “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” were amazing. “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” is probably my favourite but “Powerslave” is a pretty close second. When I rejoined, “Brave New World” was a great record. Since then, “A Matter of Life and Death” has some great stuff on it. Live, the recent one, “Senjutsu” works really well.
Playing Sonata live - No, I don’t want to disappoint people. I want them to absorb the album before I dump a 10 minute track on them! I’ve got plenty of other baggage I need to unload. There will be 3-4 songs, maybe more, off the new record. Bear in mind this is a first effort in terms of going out with this band and going out on tour. We have plenty of material. If we end up coming around Europe again, then we can put a show together in a bigger venue that would really showcase a track like “Sonata” live, where you are in heavy metal Pink Floyd territory.
Then it was 10 years or something daft before we got together in 2014, and then another 7 before we actually got together and finished it. By this time, we had lots of extra material, most of which we didn’t use because we already had 8 of the 10 songs. We thought it would be heavy and a bit out of the box.
I thought that was a great title for an album, so I wrote the song. At that point I was considering a concept album, so I put a bit of narration in that sounded okay. I put a story together and generated characters who were bringing back a human soul and reinserting them into someone else. I wrote “Resurrection Men” and there’s a little Hawkwind vibe, great stuff to sing. But I hadn’t got into great detail into anything. So it was left half done.
Going back to the album, I thought there was no point making it into a concept album because I already had that on the comic. Let’s make music our concept. I wanted to have a few mad Tarantino, Ennio Morricone moments and unexpected twists and turns, bongos. Every one of the songs on the record is a favourite. Every song has a different character.
We were doing comics for the Legacy of the Beast game, which were beautifully drawn with super bright colours. We had a great female character but there was no story. That’s going to get people to stick with it. Stories do that.
Personally I thought the book was very cool. I did Revelations on it with Tony Lee as a bit of a dummy run, working together. It was a good practice before the main event. I love to be involved in all that stuff. The big daddy of all of it is “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son”. I would love to pull all that together as one story. Whether or not there’s an appetite for it is a different case. “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” in particular could be super cool.
I would have said Chemical Wedding for my solo work, but that was before this record. This record genuinely moves the goal posts for where we can go next. There will be a next, but we don’t know where that is yet. That’s part of the fun. If was going to be bold, I would say the last track on this record, Sonata. It is different to other tracks, and the way it was recorded, it’s the most emotional thing that’s been put on record for me. There’s no galloping bit in the middle. For Maiden, all of those first albums up to and including “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” were amazing. “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” is probably my favourite but “Powerslave” is a pretty close second. When I rejoined, “Brave New World” was a great record. Since then, “A Matter of Life and Death” has some great stuff on it. Live, the recent one, “Senjutsu” works really well.
Playing Sonata live - No, I don’t want to disappoint people. I want them to absorb the album before I dump a 10 minute track on them! I’ve got plenty of other baggage I need to unload. There will be 3-4 songs, maybe more, off the new record. Bear in mind this is a first effort in terms of going out with this band and going out on tour. We have plenty of material. If we end up coming around Europe again, then we can put a show together in a bigger venue that would really showcase a track like “Sonata” live, where you are in heavy metal Pink Floyd territory.
Lots of extra material from the new album sessions, the approach/style of the songs was intentional (different vibes he likes), Eternity and Resurrection Men were the only songs part of the original concept (so the latter was shown to Steve for sure), the new album allows him to be even more adventurous with the next one (which is certain, but he don't know when), he really likes the album (even more than TCW!) and Sonata (called it his most emotional song on record), he might play more new songs this year if he tours Europe again.
His favorite Maiden albums are -> the first 7 (SSOASS is probably his favorite, with POM on close second), BNW, AMOLAD and SJ (rather live)!
Bruce Dickinson – Resurrection Man
The Mandrake Project will be Bruce Dickinson’s seventh solo album and his first since Tyranny Of Souls in 2005. Just before Christmas, we sat down with Bruce to chat about the new record, Com…
norwayrock.net
TaaviMaiden
Educated Fool
Roy Z seems to be focussed on completely different projects, including new music for Tribe of Gypsies.