[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ron Maiden are to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award for their outstanding contribution to UK music, it has been revealed.
The rock group has been named by music charity Nordoff Robbins as the 2015 recipient of the accolade, and will be presented with the award at the organisation’s 40th anniversary O2 Silver Clef Lunch on July 3 at Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London.
The band have been chosen to receive the prize in recognition of their global success, having sold over 90 million albums and performed more than 2,000 concerts, and means they will join previous recipients including David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney and Annie Lennox.
On being announced as the winners, the band said: “Nordoff Robbins is an exceptional charity and their dedication to changing people’s lives through music therapy is something we all very much support. We’re extremely proud to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award and be part of the 40th anniversary event celebrating this wonderful achievement.”
The announcement was made at a private party at The Club at Café Royal in London on Monday (23.03.15), where it was also revealed Il Divo will be awarded the coveted PPL Classical Award.
The cross-over opera group have sold over 30 million albums to date and achieved 50 number one records, leading to them being named the recipients.
On their win, the group said: “We are honoured to be receiving the PPL Classical Award at the 40th Anniversary of the O2 Silver Clef Lunch. We are really looking forward to the event on 3rd July.”
The band remain ‘extremely optimistic’ for Bruce Dickinson’s recovery
Iron Maiden have issued another statement regarding singer Bruce Dickinson, who’s been undergoing cancer treatments lately. And echoing a statement they issued a couple weeks ago, the band says that Dickinson is well on his way to a full recovery.
“Over the last few days, Bruce has been to see his specialists, and following examinations, including visual, we’re delighted to update everyone that the situation remains extremely optimistic for a full recovery,” they wrote on their website.
Everyone’s still being cautious, however. As the band notes in today’s update, “We will still not have final confirmation that the cancer has been completely eradicated until Bruce can have an MRI scan in May, as previously advised in Rod’s recent message to the fans on this site, and the period to full recovery will continue for a few months yet.”
Still, that’s good news for both the band and fans. When news broke last month of Dickinson’s cancer, it came as a surprise. As far as most people knew, the band was hard at work on its next album, which was being teased for release sometime maybe this year.
Dickinson’s recovery will probably put any recording and touring plans on hold for the time being. But you never know. Dickinson has already headed to the pub, and according to the band’s new update, “Bruce’s immediate reaction to the specialists’ good news was to be as active as feasibly possible, taking in a couple of visits to the Maiden office, one to the Hybrid Air Vehicle hangar to see latest progress and a brief trip to his local pub, much to the surprise and delight of all his friends there!”
