David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) – Has owned and flown several vintage aircraft. Soaring through both skies and soundscapes, there are some artists who possess the skill of blending melody with altitude. These musicians rock both the stage and the sky. They aren’t just performers on stage but also pilots in the cockpit, balancing life between runways and rehearsals. In this feature, we spotlight the musicians who are navigating the clouds and captivating audiences, harmonising two vastly different yet thrilling worlds.
Bruce Dickinson, Lead Vocalist of Iron Maiden
In the world of metal music, Bruce Dickinson is a well-known name. The lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden is also an author, broadcaster, and aviation entrepreneur. He rocks both the stage and the sky
Beyond his musical endeavours, Dickinson has a fascinating parallel career as an aviation professional. He earned his commercial pilot’s licence in 1990 and later worked as a captain for Astraeus Airlines. Following this, Dickinson leveraged his love for flying to establish Cardiff Aviation in 2012, which later restructured as Caerdav. As the company’s chairman, he oversees maintenance for large commercial transport aeroplanes, including Boeing 737s, Airbus A320s, 767s, and 757s. The maintenance involves engine changes, landing gear replacements, interior refits, electronic upgrades, and complete strip downs and rebuilds.
Interestingly, he has captained the tour plane for Iron Maiden on many flights. Bruce Dickinson is a unique blend of a rock star and an aviator, excelling and finding fulfilment in both spheres.
Enrique Iglesias
Often recognised as the King of Latin Pop, Enrique Iglesias has a strong love for flying as well. Even before obtaining his pilot’s licence, he bought his first aircraft because he was so fascinated by them and wanted to experience the freedom of flying for himself. Iglesias is so eager to fly that he reportedly made a joke about being equated to the “Barefoot Bandit,” a youngster who flew multiple stolen aircraft successfully without any official aviation instruction. The musician now regularly makes use of his aviation skills, typically flying to his Florida Keys residence.
Tim McGraw
Renowned country music singer Tim McGraw is also a pilot himself. He flies a Cirrus Vision SF50 and an SR22. As a Cirrus owner, Tim has become a celebrity spokesperson in multiple Cirrus Aviation promos. Regarding his love for aviation, he once said, “I love being up in the air, not having to think about work, not having to think about records, not having to think about movies, not having to think about who I didn’t call today. When I am up there, I don’t have to worry about any of that stuff.”
Kris Kristofferson
Late American singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson, known for the songs “Me and Bobby McGee”, “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, has a flying career too.
Kristofferson lived a life steeped in military tradition, hailing from a family with a history of military service. In 1960, he joined the US Army, where he earned his Ranger tab and trained as a helicopter pilot, reaching the rank of captain
Kristofferson held a number of positions, including piloting commercial helicopters for Louisiana-based Petroleum Helicopters International (PHI). He worked on oil platforms and flew helicopters during his time at PHI, which gave him the freedom to compose some of his best-known songs, such as “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”
One of Kristofferson’s most well-known stories from his flying career is perhaps the one about how he boldly tried to convince Johnny Cash to listen to his music by landing a helicopter in his yard.
Musicians rock both the stage and the sky
Along with the mentioned ones, there are many more musicians who rock both the stage and the sky. Here are some prominent names.
- David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) – Has owned and flown several vintage aircraft.
- Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) – Enthusiast of vintage aircraft; licensed pilot.
- John Travolta – Actor and occasional singer; owns multiple jets and has a private runway.
- Herb Alpert – Jazz trumpeter and co-founder of A&M Records; known to fly privately.
- Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues) – Licensed pilot; flew to gigs occasionally.
Let us know if you want to know more about them and what your thoughts are on this!!
