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Bruce Dickinson – Tattooed Millionaire (Review)

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Bruce Dickinson – Tattooed Millionaire (1990)

The release of Bruce Dickinson’s first solo album,1990’s Tattooed Millionaire, didn’t represent the fulfillment of some pent-up creative ambition. Instead, an offer to record a track for Nightmare On Elm Street 5 turned into an opportunity for the Iron Maiden frontman to have some simple fun recording an album with his drinking pal, jobless ex-Gillan guitarist Janick Gers. Unsurprisingly, it’s a bit of a throwaway effort. The title track is upbeat and infectious but pub rockers like Lickin’ The Gun and Zulu Lulu prove every bit as unremarkable as their titles and album nadir Dive! Dive! Dive! is just too silly (“no muff too tuff”). But the album gets evocative and personal on the excellent Born In ’58, the dusty Bad Company-esque opener Son Of A Gun is one of my favourite Bruce tracks and there’s a sense of fun and warmth in the band’s unpretentious approach. So, while far from a classic, time has been kind to Tattooed Millionaire, especially its stronger first half. I return to this album any time I want a bit of nostalgic summery fun.

My copy – Reissue CD with bonus disc

40 thoughts on “Bruce Dickinson – Tattooed Millionaire (Review)”

      6. I love Mott but I’m not a huge fan of that one. It’s just OK. I think he could have picked a cooler song to do. And Bring Your Daughter… would have been great on this! That would have bumped it up to a 4 for sure.

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      8. I’m not a huge fan either but it’s a better track than a lot of this album’s stuff. Maiden’s is good too so no harm done. Can see why they wanted it. Always felt more like an Bruce solo song though.

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      3. I think any Maiden fan who saw those shows must have said “woah! This guy is going to on fire with Iron Maiden!” Because it was known at the time he was the new guy.

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  2. I remember reviewing this for my school paper. This was the first music writing I ever did. Wanting to get ahead of the curve I reviewed the single and it’s B-Sides as if they were album tracks. No one noticed because I don’t think anyone ever read it but I learned a lesson. Never bullshit in your writing. It’ll make you feel bad. And I never have since. There was a live VHS of the tour that had Bring Your Daughter In it too. All good fun as you say.

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  3. I’m with Mike, I quite liked this album and as silly as it sounds, “Dive Dive Dive” always had me laughing and proved you could have humour in metal. Not that I ever doubted it.

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      2. Cool. “3” reviews can be a bit tricky that way. Didn’t was it to be too harsh. Cause I still listen to it loads. Very nostalgic for me! But I think Bruce’s albums just got better and better after this.

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  4. No Muff to Tuff!
    Yeah, this is a decent album. I’ll go half a point more and say 3.5. Pretty decent slice of hard rock. Born in 58 is brilliant. That chorus is killer! The live video is excellent. Gers is off prancing and kicking up a good time and he can’t behind any other guitarists on stage to prance about so he actually pulls it off!
    Great review Sir!

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  8. Pingback: Bruce Dickinson – The Breeding House (Song Review) | HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD

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