Bruce Dickinson Joins The Royal Air Force Fencing Team

Bruce Dickinson (Twitter @brucedickinson)

JAKARTA - Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has officially joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) fencing team. Forces Network reports, this British vocalist was awarded the role of Honorary Group Captain in Squadron No. 601.

The multi-talented rocker reportedly contacted the Royal Air Force about possibly joining their fencing team in December. He wants to compete in the RAF Championships on May 16 and 17 and the Royal Air Force Fencing Open the following month.

Now, Dickinson has officially joined the Royal Air Force. Depending on his performance in the RAF Championship, he may be selected to represent the RAF at the Inter Service Championship, which runs July 13-16.

Bruce started playing fencing at age 13 at school, but only after being persuaded by a teacher to try it. On one try, he found that the exercise was not just about physical exercise, but also gave a number of exercises to the brain.

@brucedickinson_ has officially been attested into the @RoyalAirForce and is now Hon. Captain Paul Bruce Dickinson Group. We look forward to fencing with him soon # RAFOpen20 @RAFNewssport @RAFCentralFund @RAFSportsFed @BFBS_Sport @britishfencing @IronMaiden @RAF_fencing pic.twitter.com/EnEVp8yY6I

- RAF Fencing (@RAF_fencing) January 7, 2020

Five years ago, Dickinson was diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer. At that time doctors found a golf ball-sized tumor on his tongue and another in the lymph nodes on the right side of his neck.

The vocalist was cleared of cancer in May 2015 after undergoing chemotherapy for nine weeks. Then, he tells of his fight against cancer in his autobiography, What Do This Button Do? which was launched three years ago.

Dickinson joined Iron Maiden in 1981, replacing Paul Di'Anno. He made his recording debut with the band NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Band) on the album The Number Of The Beast (1982).

In 1993, Dickinson left the band to pursue a career as a solo singer. However, six years later, he rejoined.

Dickinson, who turned 61 in August, has several other interests outside of music. He is a licensed commercial pilot and owns an airline. He has also done acting and brewing.