Iron Maiden’s legendary drummer Nicko McBrain has announced a European spoken-word tour titled ‘Hello Boys And Girls!’, as reported on his official Instagram.
The announcement confirmed that the tour will follow the release of McBrain’s upcoming memoir of the same name, set to launch on October 22, 2026. McBrain shared the news directly with fans, outlining the scope and spirit of the upcoming shows.
“An Evening With Nicko McBrain. Hello Boys and Girls! Following the announcement of Nicko’s upcoming memoir, the man himself is hitting the road for a spoken word tour!” McBrain said.
The tour will take McBrain across multiple European countries, offering fans an intimate look at his life and career.
“Join Nicko in theatres across Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK later this year for colourful stories of a life well-lived,” he continued. “Featuring tales from behind the drum-stool of Iron Maiden, lessons learned from an eventful youth, and triumphant highs and deepest lows… This is a chance to get up-close-and-personal!”
The spoken-word tour is set to kick off following the October 22, 2026 release of McBrain’s autobiography, Hello Boys And Girls!
The tour and memoir arrive at a significant moment in McBrain’s life. They mark his first major public engagement since stepping away from Iron Maiden’s touring schedule — a transition that has reshaped his relationship with the band he helped define for over four decades.
RAMzine reported that McBrain stepped back from Iron Maiden’s touring schedule in December 2024 following a stroke he suffered in 2023. Simon Dawson took over the live drum role for the band’s 2025 shows. The health scare marked a turning point for the drummer, who had been a cornerstone of Iron Maiden’s sound since joining the band ahead of the 1983 release of Piece of Mind.
Despite his retirement from the road with Iron Maiden, McBrain has made clear that his connection to the band is far from over. Vice noted that McBrain has stated he is still recording with Iron Maiden, even after retiring from live touring. This underlines that his creative partnership with the group remains very much alive.
McBrain has also been candid about his legacy within the band. As Vice highlighted, he has made clear that no one can “replace” him — a sentiment that speaks to the irreplaceable role he played in shaping Iron Maiden’s iconic sound across celebrated albums such as Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, and Brave New World.
As for the memoir itself, RAMzine reported that Hello Boys And Girls! is being published by Harper Nonfiction. It will be available in hardback, ebook, and audio formats on October 22, 2026. The spoken-word tour is expected to serve as a live extension of the book, giving fans across Europe the rare opportunity to hear McBrain’s stories firsthand — straight from the man behind the drum kit.
