“I said, ‘Before we start, you know that if I audition I’ll get the gig. But be warned – I’m gonna be a pain in the arse!’”: Bruce Dickinson recalls his audition for Iron Maiden – and his crazy times with his previous band

Iron Maiden in 1981.

In 1981, Bruce Dickinson became the singer in Iron Maiden – replacing the charismatic but wayward Paul Di’Anno.

It was a huge gamble for the band to change singers at a crucial stage of their career, with just two studio albums to their name.