Skunkworks

Mr. Bruce Dickinson found himself in high water when, in 1994, accompanied by a completely new band, he traveled to Sarajevo to perform a gig in the city. This happened right in the midst of the terrible siege, in which hell was unleashed and utter destruction reigned on its inhabitants. This would prove to be a life-changing experience for him, and he would never quite see life and death in the same light again. Upon returning from this nightmare, the band decided they'd been tempered in blood and were ready for anything - in this case, "anything" referred to an album. Welcome to Skunkworks.

That's what they wanted to call themselves, at least. Management had other ideas; the album would sell better with "Bruce Dickinson" on the cover, they said. The fans, however, upon purchasing the record - which was called, wait for it, Skunkworks - were perplexed. Bruce had done some experimental stuff with Balls To Picasso, sure, but this wasn't exactly a normal type of hard rock. This album was alternative.

Actually, Skunkworks is a much heavier album than some people are willing to admit, but it's played in typical alt and grunge fashion. A lot of the songs on it are rather cynical in nature, and showcased a side of Bruce unafraid to tackle issues he was facing and emotions he was feeling. It's a very raw record and with a lot of demons flowing through it, a rite of exorcism if you will. Unfortunately, this wasn't at all what most people wanted to hear, and the band broke up after the album flopped.

Bruce considered quitting music completely and taking up his other interest - flying - full time, but luckily a phone call from Roy Z managed to sway him back down. Luckily, time has been kind to Skunkworks, and people have started showing it more of an interest than it ever received upon release. Maybe not his best work, but it's a very good record all the same.