Iron Maiden’s bassist and founder, Steve Harris, has admitted he was deeply unsure when Bruce Dickinson decided to rejoin the band in 1999. According to Harris, he “wasn’t a hundred per cent sure of the reasons behind it” after Dickinson had left the band in 1993, and only agreed to give things a chance: “Well, okay, let’s see.”
He told MusicRadar that, despite his hesitation, he was also hopeful: “That was wonderful to a certain degree … And then on the tour it was great, and from then on it was alright.” Over time, Harris says he learned to put past tensions aside and focus on what they could build together — leaning on maturity to “bite your tongue and get on with it.”
Harris describes Dickinson as “unusual … which is probably what makes him so good,” acknowledging that the frontman’s distinctive voice and personality had a special quality — but also carried complications. He admits that when two strong characters share a band, some friction is inevitable, but over time they found a balance.
According to Dickinson, Harris was “very suspicious” about his return. The singer recalls being asked bluntly, “Why do you wanna come back?” ›› Dickinson replied that he thought the world “needs Iron Maiden” again and that together they could “sweep away the past by doing an amazing future.”
Harris’s fears weren’t so much about Dickinson’s talent — he always recognized that — but more about whether his motives were right after years apart. He also praised Bruce’s commitment later on, especially when the band revisited songs from different periods, saying Bruce was willing to embrace pieces that came from both the Bayley era and even earlier.
Their reconciliation ultimately paid off: Maiden’s first album with Dickinson back was 2000’s Brave New World, and for Harris, that proved the decision was worth it.
