Born on August 7: Bruce Dickinson, singer of Iron Maiden but also airline pilot!

He was born in 1958 in Worksop near Nottingham and has never been content to just scream along with Iron Maiden, the UK's most popular heavy metal band.

After a few teenage experiences, he truly began his career in 1979 with Samson, another flagship of what was then called The New Wave of British Heavy Metal. But it was with Iron Maiden in 1982 that he truly demonstrated the full extent of his vocal abilities with the iconic "The Number of the Beast." A reference to the diabolical 666 also used by other bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. From a band that borrowed its stage name from a rather gruesome torture instrument developed in the 16th century, one might expect a little gratuitous affection, of course! Except for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, for whom Iron Maiden is also the nickname. Arguing that their band was formed before she took office, they have always denied any affiliation with her.

In addition to a few solo escapades, Bruce Dickinson has other strings to his bow. A skilled fencer and high-level practitioner of the sport, he even founded a brand of equipment called Duellist in 1988. He has written two books, "The Adventures of Lord Iffy Boatrace" (1990) and "The Missionary Position" (1992), each of which has sold tens of thousands of copies. But what's even more surprising is that the singer has also held an airline pilot's license since the early 1990s. In his spare time, Commander Dickison even piloted the joystick for the now-defunct English company Astraeus, as well as Ed Force One, the Boeings the band has been using for their tours since 2008.

After more than four decades with the dials consistently in the red, one might wonder what state the man's eardrums are in today.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo : © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Bruce Dickinson with Iron Maiden on stage at Forest-National in Brussels (Belgium) on October 20, 1984