An epic new solo album? A mind-bending comic book series? Dead twins, ritual sex magic and ghostly occultists? We join Bruce Dickinson at Comic Con Brazil to find out what the hell The Mandrake Project really is
From 23 floors up, São Paulo looks like a crazed concrete Lego set pieced together by a restless toddler god. Nearby tower blocks topped with triangular steel constructs that resemble 1930s radio transmitters give way to an endless spread of grey and white buildings of all shapes and sizes, peppered by vivid splashes of greenery and crawling, multi-coloured streams of tiny cars. Somewhere in this vast, fantastic hive of humanity, 12 million souls are busy living, working, eating, sleeping, screwing and, in some cases, dying. But Bruce Dickinson is oblivious to the spectacular view and everything in it. Right now, his mind is… elsewhere.
“I think there’s a question mark over the nature of the universe,” he’s saying. “Is it scientific? Is it poetic? Of course, it’s scientific, but science can’t measure emotion. The meditations caused by poetry can connect you with the emotions that may be expressed by alternate realities and other dimensions. Time travel is only possible in your head. In your head, you can travel back in time.”
Sadly, we’re not in an alternate reality or another dimension. We’re sitting next to the window of an exclusive VIP bar in one of São Paulo’s most upmarket hotels. With his woolly hat and ‘Washmen’ t-shirt (a parody of Alan Moore’s landmark 1980s graphic novel Watchmen, featuring the comic’s blue-skinned protagonist Doctor Manhattan exiting a shower in a flowery plastic cap), the Iron Maiden singer stands out amid the well-heeled guests and sharp-suited business people sipping coffee and having late-morning power meetings. The only thing remotely bling about him is the brand new wedding ring he proudly shows Hammer –he got hitched to his French partner Leana Dolci in her native Paris two weeks ago.
Bruce has been talking effusively for the past 90 minutes. The conversation has taken in Ragnarok, the occult, Sons Of Anarchy, surf guitar, William Blake, Doctor Strange, astral travel and psychedelic drugs, all of which we’ll get to soon. Where he’s taken more of a backseat when it comes to Maiden’s press duties in recent years, today he’s wired with enthusiasm.
The reason for his excitement is the reason we’re here in São Paulo. In 24 hours, Bruce will appear at CCXP, the Brazilian Comic Con. There, in front of a hall full of rock fans, comic book junkies and movie buffs, he will unveil his new solo single, Afterglow Of Ragnarok, and its accompanying video, as well as officially launch its parent album, The Mandrake Project, and the high-profile comic book series of the same name.
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