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What Does This Button Do?

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What Does This Button Do?

By: Bruce Dickinson
Narrated by: Bruce Dickinson
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About this listen

A long-awaited memoir from the larger-than-life, multifaceted lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, one of the most successful, influential and enduring rock bands ever.

Pioneers of Britain's nascent Rock & Metal scene back in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden smashed its way to the top, thanks in no small part to the high-octane performances, operatic singing style, and stage presence of its second but twice-longest-serving lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. As Iron Maiden's front man - first from 1981 to 1993, and then from 1999 to the present - Dickinson has been, and remains, a man of legend.

But OTT frontman is just one of the many hats Bruce wears. In addition to being one of the world's most storied and well-respected singers and songwriters, he is an airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, motivational speaker, beer brewer, novelist, radio presenter, and film scriptwriter. He has also competed as a world-class level fencer. Often credited as a genuine polymath, Bruce, in his own words (and handwritten script in the first instance!), sets forth many personal observations guaranteed to inspire curious souls and hard-core fans alike.

Dickinson turns his unbridled creativity, passion, and anarchic humour to reveal some fascinating stories from his life, including his 30 years with Maiden, his solo career, his childhood within the eccentric British school system, his early bands, fatherhood and family, and his recent battle with cancer.

Bold, honest, intelligent and very funny, What Does This Button Do? is an up-close look inside the life, heart, and mind of one of the most unique and interesting men in the world - a true icon of rock.

©2017 Bruce Dickinson (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Funny Heartfelt Transportation Aviation

Critic Reviews

‘A chatty and anecdote-filled autobiography… There is much fun to be had, such as trying to put a certain part of his anatomy in the ear of the singer in rival band Quiet Riot (clue:not his finger) Sunday Times Books of the Year

‘The entertaining chronicle of a spotty anorak who escaped his grey existence into the absurd drama of life as Iron Maiden’s frontman’ Daily Telegraph Books of the Year

‘What Does This Button Do? is a genuinely fascinating and funny look back at Dickinson’s life. From his early days growing up in the Nottinghamshire mining town of Worksop (where he was raised by his grandparents until the age of six) to his roller-coaster 40-year music career, it paints a candid picture of a life well lived.’ Classic Rock Magazine

‘If you only read one book this year, it absolutely must be Bruce Dickinson’s new autobiography, What Does This Button Do? … The book is every bit as entertaining and bursting with energy as you might expect.’ Metal Hammer

‘Whether you are a Maiden fanatic, an aviation enthusiast, a fencing aficionado or none or even all of the above, you will most definitely get something from this extremely well written and entertaining book, such is the calibre of the man, his philosophies and the level of his accomplishments.’ Metaltalk

What listeners say about What Does This Button Do?

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A true life boys own adventure

Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson has done just about everything boys dream of doing: lead singer for one of the world's most successful bands, airline captain, novelist, screenwriter, movie and documentary producer to name but a few.

'What Does This Button Do' is a thoroughly enjoyable account of Bruce's life, from growing up in a working family, through impoverished uni student days, right through to rock superstar and accomplished pilot. It also contains a honest and thoughtful account of his battle with cancer.

I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to Iron Maiden fans and non-Iron Maiden fans alike.

Also, awesome to have the man himself narrating the audio version of he book.

I'd give this book 5 stars, but it steers clear of anything controversial, as Bruce himself states in the afterward, he's steered clear of anything to do with marriages, divorces or births. The sections on Iron Maiden, while enjoyable, don't really give hard core Iron Maiden fans anything they wouldn't already know. For these reasons I'm taking a star off.

Fair play to the man though, he comes across as a thoroughly likeable and intensely interesting chap, the sort of bloke you'd love to have a beer with in the pub.

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A brilliant insight into a very successful mans life

I have listened to the book 3 times and I enjoy it just as much as I did the first time.

Bruce makes the whole story come alive and you just get a real sense of who he really is.

I highly recommended this book to anyone not just Iron Maiden fans.



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Fantastic

I’m a fan so I was always going to be interested. You really don’t have to be though. A wonderful telling of a remarkable life. Metal front man, commercial airline pilot, cancer survivor and so much more.

Well worth the listen.

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Amazing

Bruce is a true story teller. It's amazing hearing about the journey he had to go through and all the adventures along the way

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everything 🤩

I loved every single bit of it! I love Iron Maiden and totally recommend this reading!!

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I really hope Bruce put out another book

Bruce Dickinson's narrative skills really sold the book for me.
I couldn't put it down
UP THE IRONS !!!!!!!

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Awesome wonderful funny surprising enlightening

An incredible insight into the world behind the lights glitz leather that is Iron Maiden

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Exceptional!

I loved this book from first word to last. What an interesting life! Some moments are truly heartbreaking, and others immensely funny, keeping everything interesting as a whole. This book is one of the better autobiographies I have listened to, and I was never finding myself getting bored with it. Bruce is an awesome narrator to boot! Highly recommend this to read/listen to!

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A good tale well told.

Great story of Bruce’s life. It’s an in-depth look at all the different aspects - fencing, singing, pilot, solo career, brew master, recording, friends - without going into all the nitty gritty stuff. Plenty of iron maiden stuff, just not a track by track blow by blow of every album. Great work.

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fantastic listen.


loved every minute.of it highly recommend any music fan will love it . brilliant.

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