Singer, songwriter, pilot, author, fencing champ, air raid siren, force of nature: Bruce Dickinson is simply a man for whom many of the normal rules and restrictions of life do not seem to apply. Heavy metal’s premier Renaissance man is, of course, best known as vocalist and frontman with Iron Maiden, the greatest British metal band of all time and, some four decades after they originally formed, still one of the most widely adored bands on the planet. But as anyone that has followed Bruce’s story will tell you, singing with Maiden is just one part of his grand, substantial and fascinating musical life. Remarkably, given that he is just as likely to be found flying an airliner, Bruce has amassed a formidable catalogue as a solo artist, releasing six extraordinary studio albums that, at this point, represent his freewheeling efforts to date.

Released in the spring of 1990, Bruce’s solo debut “Tattooed Millionaire” came as something of a surprise to Maiden’s global fan-base. A more stripped down and straightforward hard rock album than many had expected, it showcased a more liberated and arguably light-hearted song writing approach, bolstered by a newfound partnership with guitarist Janick Gers, and the sparkling possibilities of a new decade. Songs like the irresistibly catchy title track, the twinkling radio rock of ‘Born In ’58’and the strutting smut of ‘Dive! Dive! Dive!’ and ‘Lickin’The Gun’ suggested that Bruce was letting loose, but keeping things simple, while the grandiose thunder of ‘Son Of A Gun’ and rapacious closer ‘No Lies’ hinted at more adventurous and challenging music to come.