It's hard to imagine Iron Maiden fronted by anyone else live at this point in their career. Yet that's exactly what vocalist Bruce Dickinson wants, should he feel like he couldn't perform anymore. In an interview with The Daily Star (by way of Blabbermouth), Dickinson said he would want the band to find someone else to sing for them live while only intermittently making appearances throughout shows. Dickinson adds that he'd want to choose his own replacement, which makes sense – who knows the music better than him?
"If tomorrow I don't feel able to sing more than four songs a night, I'd like the guys to continue and I should be able to choose my replacement," he said. "I would stick my head in from time to time and the other singer would do the rest. When you look at Keith Richards, who suffers from arthritis, he's not on top form every night but he's supported by other guitarists. It's The Rolling Stones. I don't think it upsets anyone. In any case, everything I've said isn't going to happen."
In a previous interview from earlier this year, Dickinson made it clear that Iron Maiden isn't planning on retiring anytime soon and will probably die doing what they love. His words, not mine.
"We're not planning to retire at all, really. I think we'll probably drop dead onstage. I can think of worse places to drop dead. But no, we're not planning on retiring. We're all still firing away [with] loads of energy and loads of enthusiasm, so I can't wait to get back together [with the other guys to start rehearsing for their now-current tour]."
Iron Maiden is currently out on the road.
6/16 – Athens, GREECE – Olympic Stadium (Airbourne & Lord of the Lost)
9/7 – Mexico City, MEXICO – Foro Sol (TBA)
w/ Trivium
9/11 – El Paso, TX, USA – Don Haskins Center [Tickets]
9/13 – Austin, TX, USA – Moody Center [Tickets]
9/15 – Tulsa, OK, USA – BOK Center [Tickets]
9/17 – Denver, CO, USA – Ball Arena [Tickets]
9/19 – Salt Lake City, UT, USA – USANA Amphitheatre [Tickets]
9/21 – Anaheim, CA, USA – Honda Center [Tickets]
9/25 – Chula Vista, CA, USA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre [Tickets]
9/27 – Concord, CA, USA – Concord Pavilion [Tickets]
9/29 – Seattle, WA, USA – Climate Pledge Arena [Tickets]
9/30 – Spokane, WA, USA – Spokane Arena [Tickets]
w/ Within Temptation
10/3 – Sioux Falls, SD, USA – Denny Sanford Premier Center [Tickets]
10/5 – Chicago, IL, USA – United Center [Tickets]
10/7 – Columbus, OH, USA – Nationwide Arena [Tickets]
10/9 – Detroit, MI, USA – Little Caesars Arena [Tickets]
10/11 – Toronto, ON, CANADA – Scotiabank Centre [Tickets]
10/12 – Hamilton, ON, CANADA – FirstOntario Centre [Tickets]
10/15 – Ottawa, ON, CANADA – Canadian Tire Centre [Tickets]
10/17 – Worcester, MA, USA – DCU Center [Tickets]
10/19 – Belmont Park, NY, USA – UBS Arena [Tickets]
10/21 – Newark, NJ, USA – Prudential Center [Tickets]
10/23 – Washington, DC, USA – Capital One Arena [Tickets]
10/25 – Greensboro, NC, USA – Greensboro Coliseum [Tickets]
10/27 – Tampa, FL, USA – Amalie Arena [Tickets]