Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith rejoining Iron Maiden in 1999 kickstarted one of the greatest comebacks in heavy metal history. Re-endowed with two classic members (not to mention two top-notch songwriters), the metal legends quickly bounced from their leanest times back to festival headliner status. But the road to redemption was rocky.
Maiden bassist, founder and lead composer Steve Harris has already confessed that getting frontman Bruce back after he shed rank in 1993 was a hard sell. In 2004 biography Run To The Hills, he admitted that it was a reluctant case of “better the devil you know”. Plus, as it turns out, drummer Nicko McBrain had his own reservations about the 80s-era reunion – except they were directed at returning guitarist Adrian.
