“What’s the use?” Dickinson said, brushing off the idea with a mix …
Bruce Dickinson has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions. The Iron Maiden frontman equal parts singer, pilot, author, and all-around force of nature has a knack for saying exactly what’s on his mind. And when the subject of Iron Maiden performing at the futuristic Las Vegas Sphere came up, he didn’t hesitate to cut straight through the hype.
“What’s the use?” Dickinson said, brushing off the idea with a mix of disbelief and defiance.
That short, sharp dismissal says everything you need to know about Iron Maiden’s approach to live music. While many artists have been flocking to the Sphere, Dickinson made it clear that the British metal legends won’t be queuing up to join them.
The Shiny Toy of the Music World
Since its grand opening, the Sphere has dominated conversations in the live music industry. With its towering dome, wraparound LED walls, and eye-popping visuals, it’s the sort of venue that feels ripped straight from science fiction. U2 christened it with a groundbreaking residency, and Phish recently put their psychedelic spin on its immersive playground.
To some fans, the Sphere looks like the perfect playground for Iron Maiden. Imagine Eddie, their skeletal mascot, towering over fans in 360-degree surround. Picture the pyramids of Powerslave or the apocalyptic wastelands of The Number of the Beast exploding across the dome. On paper, it sounds like a match made in heavy metal heaven.
But for Bruce Dickinson, it’s the exact opposite.
Maiden Doesn’t Play by Other People’s Rules
Iron Maiden has never been a band that needed someone else’s bells and whistles. For more than four decades, they’ve built their own stage worlds complete with fighter planes, giant devils, fire cannons, and Eddie in more terrifying forms than anyone can count. The magic of a Maiden show lies in the fact that they create it.
“People come to see Iron Maiden, not to see how we fit inside someone else’s building,” Dickinson said. “We don’t need a giant toy box to tell our story.”
That attitude cuts to the heart of why fans love Maiden: they are unapologetically themselves. Where other artists might bend to fit the Sphere’s limitations, Maiden would rather keep building their own arenas of imagination brick by brick, tour by tour.
Fans Are Split
As with most things Bruce says, the reaction online has been immediate and passionate. Some fans are cheering him on, saying this is exactly what makes Maiden stand apart. “That’s why they’re legends,” one fan wrote. “They don’t follow trends. They are the trend.”
Others, though, can’t help but feel a little disappointed. “Just imagine Eddie bursting out of that 360-degree screen,” another fan countered. “It would be the most metal thing ever.”
It’s a fair point but Dickinson’s refusal also highlights how strongly Maiden values their independence. For them, the show isn’t about fitting into the latest venue. It’s about building a world that feels entirely their own.
Still Flying High
At this stage in their career, Iron Maiden has nothing left to prove. Their recent tours have packed stadiums and arenas, and Dickinson himself just dropped a solo album that proves his creativity is still burning bright. Whether it’s giant Spitfires on stage or towering backdrops of dystopian landscapes, the band continues to reinvent its live show on its own terms.
The Sphere may be dazzling, but it doesn’t define Iron Maiden. And Bruce Dickinson wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Look, we’ve got our own way of doing things,” he said. “And it works.”
The Final Word
Bruce Dickinson’s blunt dismissal of the Sphere sums up Iron Maiden in a single moment: fearless, independent, and unwilling to compromise. While other artists chase the future of live performance, Maiden is too busy building their own.
The band doesn’t need the Sphere. In Bruce’s words, what’s the use?
