Pop Quiz: Iron Maiden

Pop Quiz: Iron Maiden

Aidin Vaziri | There was something reassuring about seeing Iron Maiden crash the upper reaches of the album chart last month with its 14th studio release, "A Matter of Life and Death." Not only has the British heavy-metal band been around forever, but it's unlikely any other act in the top 10 could boast an album of harrowing epics like "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" that tangle with war and religion or a lead singer who moonlights as a world-class radio DJ, sword fighter and commercial airline pilot. That would be Bruce Dickinson, whom we spoke to by phone from London shortly after the album's release.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden
Q: Congratulations on turning into a pop band!
A: Well, I don't know about that. Hardly. When pop bands start doing nine-minute songs, then, hey. The last pop band that did that was Pink Floyd, I think.
Q: Yes, but you were sitting right up there with Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera and "Cheetah Girls 2."
A: The trouble is we need some decent competition. And, let's face it, anyone that names their new album after something that washes your bum is a bit strange.
Q: Huh?
A: Beyoncé. "B'Day." Bidet?
Q: How could I miss that? Thirty years later and you haven't matured a bit.
A: Not at all. I'm still completely juvenile.
Q: Is there a point when you're going to stop putting zombies and skeletons on your album covers?
A: I don't think so. Why?