Iron Maiden’s frontman Bruce Dickinson is used to singing ‘Run to the Hills’ but at the moment he can’t even run to Europe because of something that he voted for.
During an appearance on Sky News on Monday, the 62-year-old frontman of the iconic British metal band told Kay Burley that Brexit is making it harder for British acts to do tours and concerts in Europe and that the government should be doing more to help.
However, during the interview, Dickinson makes reference to the fact that he voted to leave the EU but believes that the UK should have handled the departure much more sensibly.
He said: “We [the music industry] are probably one of the UK’s major exports...I mean come on and we are sitting here, we can’t do anything.
“It’s very well known that I voted for Brexit but the idea is that after you’ve done it you then go in and be sensible about the relationships that you have with people.
“So at the moment all this guff about not being able to play in Europe and the Europeans not being able to play over here and all the work permits and that rubbish...come on, get your act together.”
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is frustrated by the impact of #Brexit on UK artists performing abroad, and feels the government can do more to help.#KayBurley UF pic.twitter.com/FHB8tNj9gZ
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) June 28, 2021
This comes off the back of comments made by Sir Elton John who branded the government ‘philistines’ for failing to properly deal with the implications that leaving the European Union has had on musicians.
Young musicians must now require visas, work permits and equipment carnets when touring the EU something which John claims is ‘crucifying’ performers.
While it would appear that Dickinson shares the sentiments of John, few had sympathy for him as he was one of the 52 per cent of the UK that voted to leave the EU back in June 2016. Cue the Iron Maiden song puns...
He supported it!
— Mike Czerski 🇸🇪🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇲 (@angrysmiley) June 28, 2021
🎶 Can I play with hindsight? The Brexiteer stared at his begging bowl... 🎶
So, when he supported leave, he was only expecting it to impact other people's lives, not his own?
— Kurt McHerdyMoomoo (@A_48er) June 28, 2021
This seems to be a common theme...
God preserve us. Sounds like he wants the UK and European countries to set up some kind of agreement, to allow free movement of people, good and services, almost as though we might make a Union of European countries, and create a Single Market within it.
— Alan Wardrop 💙 Lets just #GTTO (@AlanGWardrop) June 28, 2021
The EU are simply honouring his vote.
— Deborah F 🇪🇺🇬🇧🏴🐶🐇 (@DeborahFSussex) June 28, 2021
Or is it that he didn't understand what he was voting for ?🤔
Bruce is a hero to me but he voted for this when the industry he is a part of has been screaming out since 2016 that this would be a disaster. I'm gad he has understood now but it would be more beneficial if he explained that he got it wrong. Would love to get him on @mrjamesob
— Steven Battelle (@StevenJBattelle) June 28, 2021
"Hey, I voted for Brexit, but I didnt think it would effect ME!" https://t.co/8a0ex5OLzO
— iAn (@IandrewDiceClay) June 28, 2021
So he voted to take free mvmt away from us but didn't realise the damage he was doing to his industry until it was too late. We tried to get people to support us as we worked to protect free mvmt, but once it was lost for us, it was lost for all. It has always been a 2 way street https://t.co/h9J1B8HlbJ
— British in Europe (@BritishInEurope) June 28, 2021
This is what he voted for. Don't get me started on prominent Brexiteers claiming otherwise. https://t.co/1atw9gFMrM
— Jude Kirton-Darling (@Jude_KD) June 28, 2021
Back in 2018, Dickinson told L’Obs that he thought Brexit would make Britain “more flexible” and that “Brexit actually opens our borders, Brexit opens the United Kingdom to the whole of the world.”
“Brexit will not change the status of the [country] by very much”, except for enhanc[ing] our economic capabilities,” he added.
