Bruce Dickinson Rips Fans for Smoking After Vape Pen Explodes

Bruce Dickinson chastised fans who were smoking during his April 27 concert at the Opera Hall in Brasília, Brazil. A statement from the promoted has been provided toward the bottom of this page.

The Iron Maiden frontman, who is out touring in support of his recent solo album, The Mandrake Project, became irate when air quality began affecting his performance.

"I can't fucking breathe. Tanya [O'Callaghan, Bruce's bassist] can't breathe,” the singer declared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). The metal legend then directed his attention to one fan in particular. “You with the fucking vape over there. Yeah, it's not you, but, please, fucking do that outside, all right? You know, if you can't stay for five minutes without having a fucking addiction.”

"I do apologize for coughing. Some of you fuckers are smoking,” Dickinson continued. “I can't sing if you're gonna smoke, all right? [Tanya's] coughing her guts out, I'm coughing. My fucking wife is going, 'Blargh,' in the back there, all right? It's kind of disgusting, all right? But if you wanna be disgusting, do it outside, all right? Not in here. My throat's got work to do. You pay good money to hear me fucking sing, not go, 'Blargh, blargh.’"

Bruce Dickinsons Scolds Smoking Fans

After the performance, MCA Concerts, the promoter behind the show, told Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda that the incident was due to a fan’s vape pen accidentally exploding. They also added that the pepper spray was not used at the concert, as Dickinson had suggested at another point.

Statement From MCA Promotions

Last night over 2000 fans filled the Opera Hall in Brasilia to see Bruce Dickinson on the third show of his, critically acclaimed, first Brazilian solo tour for over 20 years.
An incident occurred towards the end of the show where noxious fumes were released, causing severe issues for the band members on stage and the crew & audience in the auditorium. Subsequently many members of the crowd have taken to social media to corroborate the incident that caused them breathing difficulties.
As video footage shows Bruce did his best, with limited knowledge of the situation, to explain the effects to the crowd but subsequently found out that several band members, including himself, were affected by the fall out and a member of the crew had to be treated with oxygen by a Doctor. The footage also shows Bruce departing the stage to perform part of the encore after being seen visibly struggling to breathe and pitch his vocal.
Tour Promoters, MCA are still working with authorities to understand the full impact of the incident and understand how the noxious fumes affected not just the audience & crew but also the band onstage.
Fortunately everyone has been checked out by medical staff and given the all clear. The show in Belo Horizonte at the Arena Hall tonight will be unaffected.

Dickinson Has Scolded Fans Before

This isn’t the first time the singer had admonished his fans. During Iron Maiden’s 2022 concert in Athens, Greece, Dickinson called a fan out for lighting a flare in the crowd.

Later that year, he called out fans for smoking weed during an Iron Maiden show in California. Dickinson said it affected bassist Steve Harris as well as himself. "If you want to go get completely stoned out of your fucking mind, go out the back and do it," he said.