Iron Maiden’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain recently addressed his departure from the legendary metal band. He clarified his relationship with his former bandmates in an interview with Modern Drummer Official.
McBrain’s comments came in response to questions about his decision to leave the band after 42 years of service. When asked about what led to his final show with Iron Maiden, the drummer provided insight into his reasoning.
“The playing wasn’t the problem for me, you know, playing a two-hour show every other night with Maiden. That wasn’t the issue. It was just getting to me with the travel and not really having days off as such,” McBrain said. “We would have the odd day here and there, especially if we did two back-to-back shows. We’d have a travel day, then a day off of full day. And my body was just saying to me, ‘It’s time to hang it up, Nick.'”
The drummer explained his timing for the departure. He noted the band’s upcoming milestone tour.
“They’re doing a 50th anniversary tour the rest of this year, and then there’s some more shows next year. So I thought, you know, this would be a great time,” he continued. “The last show at S. Paulo, which was phenomenal. The guys, there was sort of mixed emotion. There was sadness, but then there was joy like ‘So we finally got rid of him.’ 42 years later. And that was spectacular night for me.”
McBrain emphasized that his departure was amicable. He addressed any speculation about tensions within the band.
“I’m still part of the family. We’re still we’re still all good mates. There’s no there’s no bad blood, no animosity. It’s all it’s all cool,” he said. “I wish Simon (new Iron Maiden drummer) the best. I know he’s got big shoes to fill. I may say so myself, boys and girls. Anyway, you know, it’s not an easy thing for him to step into. I have my unique style and I he has his.”
McBrain’s departure comes at a pivotal moment for Iron Maiden. The band prepares for their milestone anniversary celebrations and continues their legacy with new talent.
Drummer World reported that Iron Maiden has announced that Simon Dawson will be taking over on drums for the band’s 2025 “Run For Your Lives” 50th anniversary tour. Dawson brings significant experience as a longtime collaborator of bassist Steve Harris in the side project British Lion. This makes him a natural fit for the band’s rhythm section.
The transition has received strong endorsement from within the band itself. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that Bruce Dickinson praised Dawson’s skill and preparedness. Dickinson said Dawson reminded him of former drummer Clive Burr during rehearsal sessions. The band was particularly impressed that Dawson was able to run through the full tour set on short notice without prior rehearsal with the main band.
Meanwhile, McBrain’s retirement from touring doesn’t mean the end of his musical journey. AXS TV confirmed that McBrain has returned to live performing with his new project Titanium Tart. He will tour Florida in July 2025 with a fresh ensemble of musicians. This new venture allows him to continue his passion for music while maintaining a more manageable schedule.
The drummer’s decision to step back was influenced by serious health challenges that put his career in perspective. His retirement followed a stroke in January 2023 that resulted in partial paralysis. This underscores his resilience and determination to continue making music despite significant obstacles. This health scare likely contributed to his body “saying to me, ‘It’s time to hang it up, Nick,'” as he mentioned in his interview.
The drummer’s departure marks the end of a 42-year tenure with one of heavy metal’s most influential bands.
