Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: What Does This Button Do?

Reviewed in Australia on 9 December 2017

Autobiographies of musicians are usually of limited interest to those who are fans of the musician or band. I will confess this much and so probably went into this book with a general positive view.

Reading through this I found it presented a more unorthodox take on the rock star. It starts from his days as a English school boy reminiscent of Tom Brown's school days, goes into London student life of the 1970's and tracks progress through his involvement with Maiden and his solo career onto his second career as a commercial airline pilot.

It did strike me as a little sanitized. It touched on some aspects of drugs and booze and only marginally mentioned any relationships. It was very open about his experiences with cancer which was quite courageous and at times told with some 'gallows humour'.

Generally an enjoyable and interesting read.

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Paul cannell

The Human Air Raid Siren spins a good yarn

Reviewed in Australia on 4 October 2019

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Bruce Dickinson is a rock n roll polymath. He spins a good yarn. Aircraft piloting, sword fencing, film making and beer brewing all in his time off from World Dominating Metal Band, Iron Maiden. Go Bruce. Great book.

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Playswithnitro

Bruce the amazing

Reviewed in Australia on 16 September 2021

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A life more interesting than most. Incredibly driven man has written about his life. Well, the parts he choose to share. A job well done.

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Amazon Customer

Good read, great writing

Reviewed in Australia on 8 January 2018

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I love the way he wrote the book. No doubt it could have been filled with gossipy stuff and nasty shots at people, but to keep it about him and his journey was great. And what a journey!!

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James Sawyers

A thoroughly entertaining read.

Reviewed in Australia on 12 November 2017

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A fantastic read. Entertaining, informative and a bit of humour thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend this book.

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Steve Twist

Loved it!!

Reviewed in Australia on 2 January 2018

Candidly written by one of the worlds greatest entertainers. Very personable and witty.

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SNP

Awesome book, but Not band gossip!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 September 2018

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A lot of people have left negative reviews for this book because they were expecting a book full of gossip about Bruce's band mates. Ridiculous! How would the dynamics of Maiden be left if Bruce told tales and then faced his band mates in the studio?!
No, this is Bruce Dickinson's autobiography, it states as much on the cover! Iron Maiden has been a massive part of Bruce's life but so has fencing and flying, not to mention his solo career. And that is what this book is about, Bruce Dickinson's life, it covers his fencing, flying, solo career, many other projects and yes Iron Maiden!!
I've been a Maiden fan since the very beginning but I wanted to read about Bruce Dickinson's life, and boy has he lived it to the full!
This book is extremely well written and in a style that made me feel like I was having an interesting chat with a really nice genuine guy, I couldn't put it down.
If you want band gossip go to Google or YouTube, if you want to read about Bruce Dickinson and his amazing life then I recommend you buy this book.

10 people found this helpful

The Gospel

A life truly lived to the full!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2018

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I've followed Bruce Dickinson since his Samson days, when he improved them no end. As he progressed through Iron Maiden's albums, however, I gradually lost interest. Why? Because he seemed to be "singing" less and less. Sure, he could still do a magnificent vibrato and held note on the choruses, but the verses were nearly all talking and, well, snarling. It's ok to speak the odd line here and there, for effect, but by the time of "No Prayer For The Dying" it was almost non-stop. I just found it irritating and unnecessary.

When I came back to Maiden several years later, he seemed to be singing a lot more again, I'm pleased to say. In the meantime, I'd read passing comments now and then about his other interests (flying, fencing, etc.) but this book clarifies it all - and how!

I am just full of admiration. OK, other musicians have hobbies and pastimes, but how many of them invest time, training and academia into them? To become a national-rated sportsman and have a second (fully qualified) "career" - not to mention his forays into writing, films, etc. - he just puts so many other "celebrities" to shame.

Not only are his anecdotes eloquent, articulate and amusing (n.b. no "ghost" writer!) they are SO informative. He explains to the layman what's involved in subjects one might have thought too technical to comprehend. Even when discussing his cancer (something that was new to me), he didn't just come out with the usual cliches of "radiology? awful!" or "chemotherapy? awful!" He describes the symptoms and treatment in detail. I just thought "At last..... I've learned a bit more about what it's really like!"

The only (small) gripe I'd have is that the description of the Sarajevo incident went on a lot longer than it needed to, in my opinion, but otherwise I was simply gagging for more, at the end.

In summary, I can't think of a single person in music who's done more with his life. What an achievement!

3 people found this helpful

Steve T

Not just for heavy metal music fans

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 February 2021

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A forthright telling of an incredible story; the highs and lows of adolescence, finding and reinventing yourself through what feels like several simultaneous parallel existences. What an amazingly talented, multi-faceted and resilient fellow Bruce is, especially when he writes very frankly about dealing with cancer. You feel you want to know more about his personal relationships but he is quite explicit towards the end as to why those aspects haven’t been included. A terrific read. I don’t possess any Iron Maiden albums, but now I might have to fix that.

One person found this helpful

Squarehead 8362

The life and times of more than a Rock star

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2019

Verified Purchase

Simply superb. Well written, concise and more than a glimpse into the life and times of the best frontman for the biggest metal and sometimes mental band on the planet. Even if you're not an Iron Maiden fan read this. It's full of wit, happiness,laughter, melancholy and despair as you walk through the life of a man who hasn't stood still in forty years. Lead singer, writer, presenter, world class fencer and airline pilot, you don't know where he gets the time never mind keeping his sanity. Gives you the good, the bad, the highs and lows of his life without the minutae which would slow the read down. One of the best autobiographies you will read and worth the effort. Thank you Mr. Bruce Dickenson for a rollercoaster time.

5 star		77%
4 star		15%
3 star		6%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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