Steve Harris Explains How Bruce Dickinson Really Compares to Paul Di’Anno: ‘Paul Wasn’t Really That Active on Stage’

“Bruce does a lot of the interviews. He’s up to speaking with mainstream media.”

Steve Harris revealed what makes Bruce Dickinson stand out as Iron Maiden’s frontman and compared him to previous vocalist Paul Di’Anno.In an appearance on the Scars and Guitars podcast, Steve Harris was asked about his relationship with Iron Maiden’s singer Bruce Dickinson, and what “key factors” and “ingredients” they share that makes their relationship as musicians work.

In reply, Harris drew a comparison between Dickinson and previous Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno.

Harris noted that Di’Anno didn’t do a lot on stage and that Dickinson surpassed him in this area from the start (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar):

“I’ve always encouraged — whatever band I’ve been in, or whatever I’ve done in the past even before that — it’s always the frontman that you want to push as being the key focal figure, really. Paul wasn’t really that active on stage.”

“He had a great stage presence, but he wasn’t really very active on stage. It’s kind of…not to say compensate. You just fill in for whatever. Bruce comes along. He was a full-on frontman. We didn’t push him that way.”

Harris continued, noting another crucial element of Dickinson’s musicianship — his willingness and ability to speak to the media:

“Bruce does a lot of the interviews. He’s up to speaking with mainstream media. I’m not so good with them. I could talk about football all day long, but it’s a bit different with mainstream media. He’s good at doing the mainstream media, so we get him focused on that.”

“That, and also being a pilot and all these other things, it gives you more of a profile where it’s a bit more out there than the rest of us. I’m totally happy with that because I don’t really see the limelight anyway.”

Steve Harris Recalls Iron Maiden’s ‘Greatest Challenge,’ Says Blaze Bayley Helped Keep the Band Alive

“I’m really proud of our time with Blaze. He helped keep the band going. It was great. It was a challenge.”

Steve Harris recalled Iron Maiden’s “greatest challenge,” and praised the contribution of vocalist Blaze Bayley, who helped keep the band alive.Iron Maiden has been through a lot during its illustrious career. They’ve taken blows, overcome problems, and adapted to harsh circumstances. But of course, not all challenges in life are of the same level.

In an appearance on the Scars and Guitars podcast, founding member and bassist Steve Harris was asked what the “greatest challenge” of Maiden’s career was. Harris stated that Bruce Dickinson’s departure was the likely candidate (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar):

“Challenge? Um, it’s tough. I don’t know which is the greatest one, but I think it’s always tough if someone leaves the band. I think the toughest one was, I suppose, probably when Bruce left. To try and keep the band together and go out and still do something different and get a different style of singer.”

Harris continued, noting that Blaze Bayley was a very different vocalist, but that this worked to the band’s advantage:

“Blaze was a very different style. And I think there was a couple of people who sang very much like Bruce, but what’s the point? We’d end up being like a tribute band, so I didn’t want that. We took it somewhere a bit different.”

“I’m really proud of our time with Blaze. He helped keep the band going. It was great. It was a challenge.”