Bruce Dickinson was a vocal supporter of Brexit. However, now that the U.K. leaving the European Union has led to work-visa issues within the entertainment industry, the Iron Maiden frontman has sounded off again leading to many people making fun of him.
Dickinson said in an interview with Sky News, “Don’t get me started on the government’s attitude to the entertainment industry. We are probably one of the U.K.’s major exports. I mean, come on. And yet we’re sitting here, we can’t do anything…It’s very well known that I voted for Brexit, but, you know, the idea is after you’ve done it, you then go in and be sensible about the relationship you have with people. So, at the moment, all this guff about not being able to play in Europe, and the Europeans not being able to play over here and work permits and all the rest of the rubbish — come on! You know, get your act together.”
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is frustrated by the impact of #Brexit on UK artists performing abroad, and feels the government can do more to help.#KayBurley UF pic.twitter.com/FHB8tNj9gZ
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) June 28, 2021
Plenty of people had a field day in the replies on Twitter. One user wrote, “The EU are simply honouring his vote. Or is it that he didn’t understand what he was voting for?”
Another user commented while linking to a news story highlighting Dickinson’s Brexit thoughts, “He voted for it. He openly said it wouldn’t matter for touring in Europe. He needs to say sorry.”
One user shared the very sarcastic comment, “If only such an organisation existed that we could join. Maybe someone should think about setting one up. I’m sure the UK would jump at the chance of joining such a forward-thinking project.”
Dickinson, despite voting for Brexit, is far from the only musician angry about what the U.K. leaving the E.U. means for touring musicians. Elton John, who was vocal against Brexit, recently told The Guardian, “I’m so angry. I’m livid about what the government did when Brexit happened. They made no provision for the entertainment business, and not just for musicians, actors and film directors, but for the crews, the dancers, the people who earn a living by going to Europe. People like me can afford to go to Europe because we can get people to fill in the forms and get visas done, but what makes me crazy is that the entertainment business brings in £111bn a year to this country and we were just tossed away.”
Sir Elton added, “To young people just starting a career, it’s crucifying. We’ve been talking to Lord Strasburger about it in the Lords, and we’ve been talking to [chief negotiator for Taskforce Europe] Lord Frost, but we didn’t really get anywhere with him…They are philistines. The government are philistines. We’ve got used to governments – especially the British government – just telling us lies every day, and I don’t feel OK with that.”
