Thoughts on Bruce Dickinson's Vocals...

I just listened to "No prayer for the dying" this morning on the train and I must say that I thought Bruce's voice was really...erm...bad :S When you listen to the 80s albums his voice is powerful and he keeps hitting the notes (well, most of them anyway) but here it was really disappointing. I haven't listened to No prayer very much before so I was surprised. What's my point, you ask...well, I think Bruce's voice have become much better that it was 10-15 years ago. I don't know if it's technique or schooling or maturity - or a mix of all three - but his voice today is so much better than in the 90s. That's quite a feat, really, to be able to be better at 45-ish than at 30-ish...
 
Bruce Dickinson at this moment in time is i would say the premier rock vocalist but over the years there have been better namely ,
1.Ian Gillan(struggling a bit nowadays (he is 61)but the ultimate rock vocalist who could cover a whole range of styles and he is of course Bruces hero )
2.Ronnie James Dio(as with Ian Gillan struggling a bit these days but in his prime the greatest metal singer)
3.David Coverdale(fantastic bluesy voice with both Deep Purple and early Whitesnake and a great frontman to boot).
I personally would slot Bruce in just behind those three and just ahead of Halford ,Plant and Paul Rodgers but hey its all about opinions.
 
@Anomica: He did try a slightly more raspy voice on "No Prayer.." and, for me personally, it worked. Some, as you have stated, did not like it at all but I found it a little refreshing (for want of a better word) after a slightly more cleaner vocal as found on "Seventh Son.."

@lihghtintheblack: Pretty much agree there (well, I would not have started this thread had I not thought it). I do think Gillan is an excellent vocalist and back in his Purple days no vocalists was better. But I will keep harping back to this - Bruce has the theatrics, emotion and passion to go with a brilliant voice and therefore is better overall.
 
Albie said:
@Anomica: He did try a slightly more raspy voice on "No Prayer.." and, for me personally, it worked. Some, as you have stated, did not like it at all but I found it a little refreshing (for want of a better word) after a slightly more cleaner vocal as found on "Seventh Son.."
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I agree that it works on some of the songs, especially since I like it best when he uses his voice instead of pressing the words out, but on some songs on No prayer he justs sounds...well, bad :(
 
I am really surprised that no one mentioned Geoff Tate from Queensryche. Technically he's one of the best in the metal scene, if not the best. But what makes him more than flawless screaming machine with endless breathe is that he can evoke feelings, through his voice. In addition to this, he is one of the very clever musician and talented lyric writer who could conceive a metal masterpiece, probably the best concept album, Operation: Mindcrime.

His voice can be full of anger, agony, desperation, excitement, love, revenge, thought, alienation... whatever the song requires. I REALLY recommend all of you, especially those who are interested in vocalists with both technique and emotion, to get those two albums:

1 - "Operation: Mindcrime": Probably the best concept album in metal and rock history. Not a single mediocre song, with clever story and great musicianship.
2 - "Promised Land": One of the most underapreciated and un-understood albums of rock history. A thematical album (not concept, because there's not an apparent story line, but every songs connect to each other and kinda forms an article) about life, life cycle, age, how the world changes, death, our existence.

I would avoid recommending single songs, as any song from both of the albums gets their full value when listened as a part of the album. They are both unique experiences, no rock or metal band/album has yet offered.



There was a project (I think called "Trinity") which would unite the talents of three best metal vocalists: Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Rob Halford (Judas Priest). songs would be composed by Rob Z. According to his words, there would be special parts for each vocalist to song, according to the caracters of their voices and singing. it would be kinda like an opera. I'm very upset that it didn't continue.

@Albie: You must immediately order Bruce's "Chemical Wedding" !!! As it is a concept album, the kind bruce likes, and wanted to produces since Seventh Son record (which, in his opinion failed to be a concept album) He sings with so much enthusiasm, and his experience as a vocalist shows itself. Vocals on King in Crimson, Jerusalem, The Alchemist, Book Of Thel are so emotional, so strong... it's unforgettable.
 
eddiesson said:
You must immediately order Bruce's "Chemical Wedding" !!!
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I will - very soon. I've heard too many people state how good it is for me to keep putting off. I have no idea why it's taken me this long to decide on buying it.
 
I have a funny story about the "Chemical Wedding" album.  The manager of the local record store used to be a huge Iron Maiden fan and he was also interested in Bruce's solo career.  Before TCW was released, he heard a few tracks from it and thought it was going to be a brilliant album (he was right).  He ordered in for his shop far too many copies of the album (500 or so I think), thinking that the album was going to be a huge commercial success.  Almost 10 years on and he's still trying to flogg over 300 copies at a fiver each :P
 
@Albie

Perhaps it's even better that you waited with the Bruce cd's. Right now, most of them have a 2nd disc with b-sides.

Especially the Tears of the Dragon single had some great b-sides (The Breeding House & No Way Out..To Be Continued) which are now on the 2nd disc of Balls to Picasso.
 
As it would happen, I have taken a rather frivolous knee-jerk reaction and gone and purchased The Chemical Wedding from eBay.

Forostar, it is, as I am assured, a Bonus CD version so maybe it is best I did wait. :D
 
eddiesson said:
I am really surprised that no one mentioned Geoff Tate from Queensryche.
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Well, we can't possibly list ALL the great singers. I mean, what about Michael Kiske of Helloween? Or Sebastian Bach of Skid Row? Timmo Kotipelto is brilliant and ex Masterplan John Lunde was/is awesome. The list goes on. But why Bruce out of all of these guys? well one thing he has aside from all the great qualities everybody's mentioned is LONGEVITIY. What is Kiske doing now? Bach is a regular on VH1 making an ass of himself, Haven't heard of Queensryche in a LONG time. Stratovarious is not necessarily mainstream and neither is Masterplan. The only singer that comes close to longevity (ABOUT, ok?) and all the other qualities to me (in other words MY opinion) is Hansi Kusch. LONG LIVE LE GUARDIAN!
P.S as I wrote this Revolution Calling came on on my iTunes hehe :D
 
Onhell said:
Haven't heard of Queensryche in a LONG time.
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What about trying Operation: Mindcrime 2?  I think it's really good but opinion is divided greatly on the album.  i don't think the concept works well but the quality of the individual songs makes the album an interesting listen.
 
@ Onhell:

Albie said:
However, Bruce is one of the few vocalists in metal that sings with passion and with a sense of dramatics. Seriously, name one better.
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I don't see where Albie stressed longevity as much as YOU do. Besides, Albie talked about how some singers (bruce) can express strong emotions, passion and sense of dramatics, and I named just another singer who is good at it (maybe as good as Bruce is, if not more). He deserves to be checked if someone here, is interested in such talented vocalists and he haven't listened to him untill now.

Queensryche may not produce albums which would come close to victory of its past, but still, geoff tate delivers a good performance, both on albums and on concerts.
 
right... and during these 26 years, he wasn't an Iron Maiden member almost for a decade. So you're not judging Bruce here, by what he has done with Maiden, what Maiden did. instead you judge him what he has done by himself, by his vocal talents. give the same chance for the others,

Even if this is true, was my message THE ONLY message that went off-topic (which was partial off-topic anyway) in the history of this bulletin board???
 
OK, I think you're both right, Onhell and eddiesson. I didn't deliberately state that Bruce had longevity, but by saying that Bruce in Maiden is one of the biggest reasons I've stuck with them does indeed suggest this. Yes, Bruce was not in Maiden for almost a decade of the 26 years mentioned but the fact that he is with them now and was so almost 25 years ago has in some way helped keep me enthused with all that is Maiden. The point Onhell made is that some singers don't have this staying power and, on occasions, interest in their band could wane. The topic, however, was to talk of Bruce's emotive and theatrical approach to  his performance - which is what I admire so greatly - but staying power is a quality not to be sniffed at.
 
Exactly Albie.

You are right Eddiesson, that Bruce wasn't with Maiden all those years, but a good example of... um, going down hill for lack of better a better phrase, is Michael Kiske. His best Performances live and in studio were in the two Keeper albums he debuted in with Helloween. After that he wasn't able to equal nor surpass that. Once he left Helloween he did do I think a couple of solo albums but practically disappeared. Unlike Bruce who's solo career was very successful, BECAUSE of all the great qualities Albie mentioned in his original post. What I mearly pointed at was his ability to do it for so many years, because sure there have been many great vocalists in Metal, but how many have been able to "stay on top" for over two decades?
 
Onhell said:
After that he (Michael Kiske) wasn't able to equal nor surpass that. Once he left Helloween he did do I think a couple of solo albums but practically disappeared. Unlike Bruce who's solo career was very successful, BECAUSE of all the great qualities Albie mentioned in his original post.
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Totally Onhell

Not only he had a successful solo career, he also took risks and explored different styles (Skunkworks) and changed his approach to vocal. he maturated. Instead of screaming by ruining his voice, he does it with total control, and he has more feeling in his singing.

The ironic thing with bruce's departure is that, (I'm speculating here) if it would had not happen, Bruce's already weakened and raspy voice would be an obstacle for Iron Maiden, which would lead them to decline. But because of this "time-off", he could rest and progress, and make Iron maiden stronger, again. The observation Albie has made, is a fruit of this departure.
 
Onhell said:
Unlike Bruce who's solo career was very successful, BECAUSE of all the great qualities Albie mentioned in his original post.
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I love Bruce and I consider him amongst the best rock singers but you can hardly consider his solo career as very successful. At least from the commercial vue point. From an artistic point it's a matter of personal taste, I bought and appreciated every solo albums he made but you must admit that he didn't sell that much cds back in the 1995-1998 period... :(
So my opinion is that Bruce did come back in Iron Maiden mainly because he was fed up with playing in small venues. Since the band missed him (or at least a singer able to sing almost every nights during a whole world tour) his come back happened. That's a question of supply and demand, nothing more romantic  :lol:
 
JackKnife said:
[...]vue point.
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What a lovely slip of the tongue! :P

I agree with the rest of the post. But I still believe that apart from good business and the feeling of 'wordly' success we can speak about 'artistic' success as well. And I really like most of Bruce's solo work, and I'm not the only one... :)
 
Serratia said:
But I still believe that apart from good business and the feeling of 'wordly' success we can speak about 'artistic' success as well.
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Obviously!!!!!!! This is what matters.
 
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