Helloween Singer Shares The Backstory Of Rumors About Him Joining Iron Maiden

During a recent episode of The Neil Jones Rock Show, Helloween’s Michael Kiske has rejected the claims about Iron Maiden approaching him to join the band as a replacement for Bruce Dickinson and shared his opinions on where these rumors stem from.

As you might already know, Michael Kiske and Kai Hensen returned to the band Helloween for a reunion back in 2017. A reunion album that was self-titled with the Pumpkins United line-up was announced soon after and was released on June 18, 2021, topping the lists in Germany which is the band’s hometown. Apart from that, Helloween’s “United Alive World Tour Part II” which was going to take place in September and October is rescheduled to take place in the next year.

Speaking to The Neil Jones Rock Show, Kiske has commented upon the rumors that he was invited to join Iron Maiden to take the place of Bruce Dickinson. When asked if he was called for an audition for the singer job of Iron Maiden, he told that he did not even know that was spoken about and he even saw the news on TV himself. He then added his opinion on the source of the rumors, saying he was no longer in Helloween at that time just like Dickinson as he was also no longer in the band and the idea might have come from that. Kiske also added that although he might be seen as sort of available during that period, he does not think he would be able to do it anyway although he was a big Maiden fan.

Kiske said during the podcast that:

“[The rumor] probably came about because Dickinson was no longer in the band. I was no longer in Helloween [at the time], so I was sort of available. Maybe that’s where the idea came [from].”

He then added:

I don’t think I would have done it — even though I am a Maiden fan; always been.”

Kiske continued his words, saying:

“But to join a band like Iron Maiden, I would not recommend it. Because, c’mon on — it doesn’t work; it just doesn’t work. So I don’t think I would have done it anyway. It was a good choice that [Bruce] came back later.

In 1992, the time when Dickinson left Iron Maiden, so many heavy metal fans felt that Kiske would fill his place most properly. But instead, Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley took the job, although his singing voice is considered not appropriate when compared with Dickinson’s.