Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has said he has the “utmost respect” for the military and praised it as a “really good place to be” ahead of Armed Forces Day.
The singer and honorary RAF Group Captain took a break from the band’s world tour to meet with members of the military community at the RAF Odiham base in Hampshire.
The visit came ahead of the annual national event on Saturday which aims to celebrate the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving personnel to Service families, veterans and cadets.
Dickinson, who is also a commercial airline pilot and established aviation entrepreneur, told the Press Association: “I’m here because I love to learn about the military and I just admire what these guys do.
“I have the utmost respect because I had a career for 17 years as a commercial pilot flying airliners and things, and in actual fact, I flew the RAF regiment on one occasion back to RAF Wittering.
“I operate out of Bryce a lot as well, flying people, not into war war zones, but close to war zones.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the military from that respect, but the people here today specifically have just displayed such an easy, casual, relaxed grasp of the fundamentals, and that means that when somebody can explain something that is very complex in very simple ways that even a rock star like me can understand, it means that they are at the top of their game.”
The rock star will attend the national event held in Aldershot on Saturday, alongside the Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, which will feature a number of events including a military parade, flypasts and educational opportunities.
He added: “People can meet people in all the walks and trades, and just basically get a feel that the military is actually a really good place to be.
“It’s not the only event tomorrow. I mean, there’s 200 events going on all around the country, so hopefully this is something that raises the awareness.
“It’s one big day a year, and I think it should really be celebrated. It’s the military’s opportunity to shine.”
Dickinson previously flew the heavy metal band on a jumbo jet during their 2015 The Book Of Souls World tour.
The frontman piloted the plane as they visited 35 countries in Ed Force One – which carried the band, stage production and equipment during their The Book Of Souls World Tour.
Formed in 1975 in east London, the heavy metal band has sold sold more than 100 million records with a number one single in the UK, 1988’s Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter and 35 songs in the top 40, according to the Official Charts Company.
They have also had five number one albums including Fear Of The Dark, The Book Of Souls, The Final Frontier, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and The Number Of The Beast, with the latest record, 2021’s Senjutsu, making it to number two in the UK charts.
The heavy rockers kicked off their 2026 Run For Your Lives tour in May and will go on to perform around the world including in Lisbon, Toronto, Los Angeles, Sao Paolo and Auckland.
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