Why did Bruce Dickinson leave Iron Maiden ?

It’s one of the biggest lineup departures in the history of heavy metal and it occurred not long after Rob Halford and Judas Priest parted ways. It left a massive void in metal as the genre endured the ’90s while Metallica, Pantera and Megadeth held things down and kept it from going out of vogue entirely (commercially, at least).

An iconic, successful singer is typically viewed as the most difficult member of a band to replace and Iron Maiden were no exception after the frontman pursued a solo career and other ventures unrelated to music.

Let’s dive into this historic departure.

What Year Did Bruce Dickinson Leave Iron Maiden?

Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden in 1993. He first joined in 1981 as the replacement for Paul Di’Anno and sang on seven albums during his first tenure with the group.

When Was Bruce Dickinson’s Last Performance With Iron Maiden Before the Reunion?

Dickinson played his final show with Iron Maiden on Aug. 28, 1993. The performance was broadcast live as a pay-per-view event in the U.K. and U.S., later released on VHS and Laserdisc under the title Raising Hell.

It’s one of the metal legends’ most unique shows as it infamously featured magician Simon Drake and a quirky narrative that culminated with the theatrical killing of Dickinson, who was put in the iron maiden torture device the band’s name is derived from. Other members were killed onstage as well, signaling the death of Maiden’s illustrious first era with Dickinson as the frontman.