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What Does This Button Do? cover art

What Does This Button Do?

By: Bruce Dickinson
Narrated by: Bruce Dickinson
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Publisher's Summary

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

What listeners say about What Does This Button Do?

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  • Overall
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Superbly Entertaining

Bruce has a fantastic life story and an engaging presentation style that made this a thoroughly enjoyable read/listen.

I’m a big Iron Maiden fan and there was more than enough about the band, tours and their creative process for a fan, and this was complimented by his other non-maiden life which most fans would be aware of but not to the detail here.

Was a relief the book wasn’t the rockstar bio trope of a set of anecdotes about sexual conquests and escapades with recreational drugs - if that’s your thing then there are plenty of other rock star biographies out there.

In my view, this book is far more interesting and entertaining

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1 person found this helpful

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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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what a man.

i found it weird that he left family, wives etc out at first but it's his story and that's fair enough. what an inspirational man. it took me a little to get used to his reading style but i find nearly every audio book is hard at first. great listen.

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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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What does this button do???

Bruce tells a wonderful story of his early life and experiences that would have otherwise gone into the great unknown.
From humble beginnings to triumphant battles fought and won!
Have a listen and enjoy his many stories

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Absolute Gold

Simply fantastic from start to finish. Never a dull moment and probably one of the best autobiographies out there, especially in the music world. An total must for any Maiden fan.

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fantastic listen.


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

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Aces aren’t high enough praise!

What a well written, well read, and enthralling story. I’ve never read an autobiography before and never left a review for the plethora of other books I’ve read/listened to, but felt compelled to write something for this one. It was down to earth, unexpected, funny, gripping and serious in equal measure. It’s honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I wasn’t expecting that going in. Simply brilliant.

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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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Press it and find out!

I must admit I've been a Iron Maiden fan for many, many years. I have read this book in the paperback format as well. so the story isn't new, but having it read by Bruce is just brilliant. It allows a perspective that you just can't get by reading it. First Class.

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