James LaBrie explains replacing Bruce Dickinson

As for the IM debate. We were just about to go into the studio to record Images and Words and had a meeting with  potential Management ( Iron Maiden's )... Rod and Merk. When in convenient proximity they asked what I thought of possibly singing for Maiden. Without hesitation, I said DT was where I belonged and I was not into filling the shoes of another singer, the definitive singer of Maiden. Remember if you will. When I was 22 yrs. old I sang for a popular band in Canada 'Coney Hatch'. They had recorded 3 albums with their original singer. Kicked him out for creative differences and vocal limitations and asked me to join. I did and sang with them for a year. We were writing new material and were about to record when I knew this wasn't going anywhere, this could only exist or not as the original line-up. Not to mention the material was weak. Anyway, I moved on and was glad i did vowing to never sing in a band that had strongly established themselves with their current line-up or singer. As for Judas Priest, no conversation ever took place. To be honest, no one could have done a better job then Ripper Owens. He did an amazing job singing for Priest. The guy has the perfect voice for that kind of singing.