Photo by Bruce McMurtrie
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is officially cancer-free after undergoing seven weeks’ worth of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The band announced the happy news on its website, saying that medical specialists had given him the “all-clear” following a recent MRI scan.
“I’m a firm believer in trying to maintain a positive attitude, and the encouragement from the global Maiden family meant a great deal to me,” Dickinson cheerfully said in today’s official statement. “Right now, I’m feeling extremely motivated and can’t wait to get back to business as usual, as soon as I can!”
The frontman was diagnosed late last year upon the discovery of a tumor on his tongue. The prognosis at the time was optimistic, as the cancer was caught in its early stages.
While Dickinson might be anxious to “get back to business as usual,” Iron Maiden’s manager, Rod Smallwood, has confirmed that the band will not be performing live until 2016. “Although Bruce is naturally eager to resume Maiden activities, it will take a while before he is completely back to full strength, as we explained previously,” he noted. “Because of this, the band will not be touring or playing any shows until next year. We know our fans will understand the situation and, like us, would prefer to wait until Bruce is back to his usual indefatigable levels of fitness before going out on the road.”
In the meantime, Iron Maiden plan to hit the studio to put the “finishing touches” on a new album, the follow-up to 2010’s The Final Frontier.
