A private bass lesson with Steve Harris
In November 1983, during a three-day break on their World Piece Tour, I had the chance of spending two evenings with Iron Maiden in Brussels. Having met Steve Harris the previous year, during The Beast On The Road Tour, he recognized me immediately, proving just how down-to-earth and approachable he truly is.
An Exclusive After-Party
After their thunderous show at Forest National, Steve invited me to a private gathering at a small bistro near the Ramada Hotel in Brussels. He had one condition: "Don't tell anyone." This wasn't a public event; it was strictly for the band, their inner circle, and friends like Chris Glenn (MSG) and a then-unknown (to me) Janick Gers.
To break the ice, I brought along my 'Rock Questionnaires.' Even though I was only 19 and my English was shaky, the band loved them. Seeing that legends like AC/DC and Ozzy had already signed off on them gave me instant 'street cred.' They spent the night happily filling them out, laughing at what their fellow musicians had written and trying to be as funny and genuine as possible. It really got them talking to me; they told me it was a brilliant idea and that they truly enjoyed reading and completing the questionnaires.
30 minutes with the "Bass God"
The highlight of the night? Steve had agreed to show me a few tips on my Fender Precision. He warned me he only had 10 minutes to spare, but once we started, he became a perfectionist. He would demonstrate a run and then wait for me to repeat it perfectly. The pressure was so intense! If I messed up, he’d correct my technique and show me again. That "10-minute" lesson turned into half an hour of one-on-one coaching.
Steve Harris isn't just a phenomenal musician; he is a class act with a heart of gold. I walked away that night not just with better bass skills, but with a memory of a "Bass God" who genuinely cared about his fans.
Fencing with the "Air Raid Siren": Bruce Dickinson
In October 1984, during the iconic World Slavery Tour, we were invited backstage after the show. Following our usual tradition, we accompanied the band back to their hotel in Brussels. I was there with my brother Pierre, also a die-hard fan and our 15-year-old sister, Anne.
At the time, Anne was an avid fencer. Naturally, she asked Bruce if he would sign her glove and fencing mask. But Bruce, being the competitive sportsman he is, had a condition...
The Hotel Room Duel
Bruce agreed to sign the gear, but only if Anne would fence with him right then and there in his hotel room! I managed to capture a photo of their first exchange. As you can see, neither of them was wearing body protection at first; Bruce was simply testing Anne’s footwork and technique to see if she could hold her own.
To the Corridors!
Once Bruce realized that Anne was actually quite skilled, he decided they needed more space for a "real" bout. He graciously lent my sister one of his own fencing jackets and even his professional fencing shoes. In the middle of the night, in the long corridors of a Brussels five-star hotel, a 15-year-old girl and one of the greatest frontmen in rock history had a full-on fencing match. This moment was so surreal.
Once again, a member of Iron Maiden, this time Bruce Dickinson, went above and beyond. They didn't just give us an amazing concert; they gave my sister (and her big brothers) a memory she would carry for a lifetime.
