Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson says rate of venues closing in UK is “absolutely shocking”

nme.com:

Iron Maiden‘s Bruce Dickinson has opened up about the rate at which venues in the UK are closing, sharing its “absolutely shocking”.In a new interview with the Daily Express, the frontman discussed the disappearance of the many small venues including the ones in which he got his start in the 1970s with his first band Samson.“The state of small venues in Britain is absolutely shocking.

Once venues go, they’re seldom replaced. When I started, shows were super-cheap. Then, bands would earn their money from their records’ royalties,” Dickinson shared.He continued: “They don’t now and live music is the essence of everyone’s existence.

We’ve got to the stage where it costs £100 to see even a low-level show.”The singer also opened up about the closing of various pubs throughout Britain especially since the band have their own brand of beer named Trooper which features the band’s demonic mascot Eddie, as its logo.

According to the Daily Express, over 35 million pints of the beer have been poured since it’s launch in 2013.“Pubs are being closed down in a way that’s ignorant,” Dickinson said. “Pubs are either being closed altogether or are being ripped out so that they become a drinking factory, instead of anywhere with a sense of community.