On yer bike, Bruce Dickinson!

Following the recently announced news of the ‘Heavy Metal Truants’ charity bike ride to Download Festival at Castle Donington, it has now been announced that Maiden’s lead singer Bruce Dickinson will be flying in specially from Germany – following two sold-out Maiden shows in Frankfurt – so he can join the HM Truants in cycling the final 25 mile leg of the bike ride into the Download Festival - along with Planet Rock's own Wyatt Wendels!

This ride by the Metal fraternity is to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust, Childline and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy.

Bruce commented: "Yes, maybe it’s the first time the headliner has shown up on a bike, but I do use my bike to get around in London when l get the chance and have turned up at the BBC on a bike before, although the Commissioners were a bit surprised as they are too used to seeing limos! These are great causes, I am only sorry that due to our tour schedule l can’t do more of the ride, and hope our fans will support our efforts... Download and Metal fans are the best there are, so everyone expects something very special.”

Starting on Wednesday, June 12th, over 40 riders will set off from Alexandra Palace, London, cycling 165 miles up to Donington Park, arriving as the first bands take to the Download stage on the afternoon of Friday 14th. The sponsored riders will include band members from British Lion, Paradise Lost, Pendulum, Tesseract, Thunder, Trivium and Young Guns alongside music journalists, radio presenters and other industry participants. There's even an MP along for the ride in the form of the Rt. Hon Mike Weatherley.