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  • What Does This Button Do?

  • An Autobiography
  • Written by: Bruce Dickinson
  • Narrated by: Bruce Dickinson
  • Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (136 ratings)

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What Does This Button Do?

Written 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 and 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 front man 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, his memoir 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 Limited
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What listeners say about What Does This Button Do?

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So well done!

I can't be sure, but I believe anyone would appreciate this book. I'm a huge rock and Iron Maiden fan so naturally enjoyed this. Bruce is so multi-faceted though, I think everybody can appreciate the story. And what a job at narration! He's so good.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent life story from Bruce

The fact that this is narrated by Bruce himself gives this book a great lift. It felt a bit over-edited in places so it lacked flow and consistency and there were some aspects of his life that I would like to have seen (entrepreneur, businessman) while others took a bit too much space (fencing). I liked that it contains no gossip or dirt, its just an interesting and varied life told by a varied and interesting person.

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Excellent!

Very entertaining book. A bit of a surprise that he chose not to talk about his adult family life but his epilogue explains it. He has led an extremely interesting life and you wouldn’t have to be an Iron Maiden fan to enjoy it.

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Great book

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot more than I thought I knew about Bruce.

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A Must Listen!

Every day I drive an hour to work and then back home in the evening. Its usually a quiet, uneventful drive. However, the last several days my co-pilot has been the one-and-only Bruce Dickinson and each morning I have looked forward to jumping into the car, and hitting the road. Mr. Dickinson has a great voice for singing and as it turns out, reading too! He has told me the story of his life with humour and emotion making me laugh and a few times reminding me of our collective humanity and the various affronts it has suffered (e.g. 9/11, Sarajevo) and how music has played a part in helping us overcome.

As we drove through the Manitoba countryside he regaled me with tales of his musical exploits bringing back the memory of the first time I saw him, Iron Maiden and Eddie in the old Winnipeg Arena opening (or more like co-headlining) with the Scorpions. I learned about some of the back story of other bands and performers I have wanted to learn more about without getting buried in a lot of self-aggrandizing or back stabbing popular with some other writers in this genre.

As an educator who believes that a positive mindset is key to most everything I was impressed to learn about Bruce's passion for fencing and expanded what I sort of knew about his flying career. He never stops learning - the exact message we try to impart to our students (and peers).

Thank you for this book. I loved it cover to cover! I really appreciated that he can tell a story (with opinions) without crapping on people he knew or parading out sordid personal details that were not germane to the story he was telling. That in of itself makes this a superior rock and roll story! How's that go? Don't bore us - get to the chorus! Its a tight well written book!

And thank you Audible for including this book in your selection!

W.

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Brilliant read and listen

I found this book to be very interesting. I was pulled in and couldn't stop listening to Mr. Dickinson. I found myself not wanting the book to end. Mr. Dickinson is a brilliant story teller. It was nice to read a book that was not filled with sexual conquests and bragging about one's self. I will most certainly read or listen to this book agian in the near future.

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Loved it

What a great read. So well written with the English humour that so few can do.

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UP THE IRONS

Well written. Excellent job of narration, an actual adventure that kept me busy listening. I will definitely listen to this again.

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great story

Really enjoyed the look into his life. Definitely enjoyed the back seat ride! He had me laughing too

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Larger than life, into real perspective.

I only ever thought of Bruce as the "front man". It is humbling to hear the "B side", and turn a childhood hero of mine, into more of a real person. Chapter 36 - 10:26.... Must be tea time ol' chap! See you in Oct 2022, Toronto!

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