Rod Smallwood, who has managed Iron Maiden for 47 years, discussed drummer Nicko McBrain’s retirement from the band in December 2024 following health issues, speaking on Radio Futuro.
McBrain stepped down from the band due to complications from a stroke. Smallwood reflected on his long relationship with the drummer and his current activities.
“I met Nicko about 10 years before he was brought into Maiden,” Smallwood said. “And we’ve been friends for a long time before then. And he’s an amazing character.”
“It’s so sad his career was curtailed a bit by the stroke,” he continued. “But he’s still very active. He’s got his book coming out soon. He’s doing a speaking tour of Europe, which he started last weekend. So he’s in good shape.”
Smallwood’s comments came as McBrain moves forward with projects outside of his drumming role with the band.
McBrain suffered a transient ischaemic attack, or mini-stroke, in January 2023. He was initially paralyzed on his right side from his shoulder down, but with support from his wife Rebecca, family, doctors and occupational therapy, recovered to around 70 percent. After 10 weeks of therapy, he returned to rehearsals for Maiden’s Future Past Tour.
On December 7, 2024, the 74-year-old McBrain announced his retirement from touring, saying that night’s concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil would be his final show with the band. He stepped back from the extensive touring lifestyle, though Simon Dawson has since replaced him onstage. McBrain remains officially Maiden’s drummer and has said he would be willing to contribute to any future studio album if the songs were easier to play given the effects of his mini-stroke.
McBrain’s autobiography “Hello Boys And Girls!” was published on October 22, 2026. His European speaking tour began on October 26 in Frankfurt, Germany, and will run through December 3 in Glasgow, Scotland, with stops in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Malta, Ireland and England. Beyond his speaking engagements, McBrain is focusing on other personal projects including the British Drum Co., his percussion shop Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, his Iron Maiden cover band Titanium Tart and his Florida BBQ joint Rock-N-Roll Ribs.
