Iron Maiden Singer Accused of Manufacturing Military Weapons

Iron Maiden are blasting a news report that claims that a company partially owned by singer Bruce Dickinson is manufacturing military drones for the United States government.

A Dorset Eye article titled 'Bruce Dickinson: Rock 'n' Roll Warmonger' alleges that Hybrid Air Vehicles was awarded a $500 million contract to manufacture the drones. "Next time Maiden fans are treated to the in-concert spectacle of the band's singer, decked out in his trademark red guardsman uniform, singing of the horrors of Paschendale," the writer declares, "they might wish to ponder his revolting hypocrisy. Similarly, it will require a robust constitution to avoid vomiting when next Dickinson treats fans to a rendition of '2 Minutes to Midnight.'"

In a written statement sent to NME, a Maiden spokesperson slammed the story as "a totally inaccurate and malicious piece of writing that seems to have stemmed from an unfortunate mistake in terminology on a South African website that the writer of said blog has since used as a starting point and catalyst to go off on a flight of sheer fantasy."

They go on to say that Dickinson and Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood were "early investors" in and remain "great supporters" of Hybrid Air Vehicles, which designs lighter-than-air craft for non-military purposes. As their statement concludes, "Rather than being involved in attacks in the Third World, as this writer has claimed in such an erroneously dramatic and defamatory manner, HAVs are designed to offer much needed assistance to civilians, businesses and governments that would be unavailable otherwise, due to the unique nature of these incredible vehicles."