The Bruce Dickinson Wellbeing Network

Robin Guy

Robin Guy

August 2002

Played on:
Airraid over Europe tour

Name and instrument:
Robin Guy...Drums
What had you been doing before you started working with Bruce?
At the time (2002) my main band was Rachel Stamp and I was also playing with Chris (Dale) in Sack Trick.
How did you come to work with Bruce?
It's all Chris' fault! Bruce became a big fan of Sack Trick - he even booked us to play his son's Birthday! I remember playing The Peel in Kingston and Bruce had brought Janick (Gers, Maiden guitarist) with him. We were packing down at the end of the show when Chris comes up to me and says: "Bruce is playing some festival dates and he wants me and you to be in his band." I replied: "F*ck off mate - that's not even funny!"Chris replied: "I'm serious Robin!" at which point, my jaw hit the floor and I squeaked: "yes".The rest is a bit of a blur...
Do you remember your first meeting with him?
I actually first 'met' Bruce - at my local pub! I was a rather drunk 18 year old and Bruce was standing with his back to me and I remember thinking 'who's this small hippy standing in my way', I look at my mate who is freaking out - because he could see who it was and when I walked around, I freaked out too - "BROOOOOOCE" I gurgled at him! Bruce was dead cool - he signed an autograph for me and quipped: "I bet you're thinking 'why is he so small'...", which was exactly what I was thinking! A week later, I saw him again, this time he was headlining Donington's Monsters Of Rock festival, to 110, 000 people...
What was the reason for you parting company with him?
I think he had another band he was working with - Iron something, I can't remember... ;o)
What have you been up to since?
Playing in way too many bands, recording albums, doing sessions, playing drum clinics, eating lots and occasionally sleeping!
Do you have any fun Bruce anecdotes to share with us?
There was one Bruce show that clashed with a show that the band I was in at the time (Rachel Stamp) had booked. Bruce's was Graspop festival in Belgium, Rachel Stamp's was Thurrock Music Festival in Essex, UK. The thing is, this was the one show that Bruce wasn't headlining and Rachel Stamp were headlining in Essex, so I guessed we'd probably be on at 5-6 pm in Belgium and headlining at 10pm in England. This gave me about 4-5 hours in between shows. After stressing out massively, I came up with this idea: Bruce is a pilot. So I called him up at his home and basically asked him to fly me and him into Belgium, do the show and then fly me back! He loved the idea and was going to try to get an old wartime bomber to fly....(!!). Unfortunately the bomber idea didn't materialise, however, Maiden's management kindly organised a flight for Bruce and myself that would (hopefully) get me back in time for my 2nd show! We just finished our set and as the last note from the guitars was still ringing out, me and Bruce dashed off the stage and into a waiting mini-bus. 1 hour later, we were having a beer at the airport. Bruce had a 1st Class ticket/ seat, but he changed this to come and sit/ hang with me - this is how amazing and humble he is! We landed at Heathrow and I went to shake Bruce's hand to thank him and he said "Hurry up - you've a show to play!" I jumped in the chauffer-driven James Bond fast-car that was waiting (thankyou Maiden management again!) and we err, broke all the speeding laws from Heathrow to Thurrock... I got there with 2 minutes to spare (the rest of the band weren't overly happy...) and said "Let's Rock!" and we did. So, thanks to Bruce, I managed to play 2 shows, with 2 different bands, in 2 different countries, on the SAME day!
What do you think of the time you were in Bruce's band?
Best. Time. Ever... Headlining Wacken Open Air is still, to this day, the best day of my life!
What do you think of his solo albums?
I really like them -every album there's a progression and he's doing something different, but all of it works! - Some of the songs are incredible and you just lose your mind playing them live - 'The Tower' is one I go particularly crazy for!! I do think that his solo records would go straight to No#1 all round the world if I was playing on them though... ;o) *Hint Hint* ;o)

Thank you for these questions - see you out there!!