IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson delivered a heartfelt tribute to drummer Nicko McBrain following the announcement of his retirement from touring after 42 years with the band.
The 72-year-old musician, revealed his decision earlier today (Saturday, December 7) through a statement shared on Iron Maiden’s website and social media. He confirmed that tonight’s performance at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, would be his final show with the iconic rock group.
Before kicking off the third song, “The Writing On The Wall,” during MAIDEN‘s set at Allianz Parque earlier tonight, Bruce spoke about Nicko‘s retirement.
“Tonight is a very special night, as some of you, I think probably all of you, will know, because this morning we announced, Nicko announced that he was stepping back for playing live drums with IRON MAIDEN,” Bruce said.
“For 42 years Nicko‘s been in this band,” Bruce continued. “He was a drummer before I was a singer, he was a pilot before I was a pilot, and now he’s not leaving the band, but he’s just not playing live with us anymore.
“So, we have a lot more music to get to tonight, and I want the rest of the night to be a celebration of Nick, a celebration of the joy that he’s brought to everybody around the world, not just here in Brazil. All right? And with that, on we go!”
Nicko said in a statement while announcing his retirement: “After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle. Today, Sat, Dec 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with IRON MAIDEN. I wish the band much success moving forward.
“I will, however, remain firmly part of the IRON MAIDEN family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I’ll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!
“What can I say? Touring with MAIDEN the last 42 years has been an incredible journey! To my devoted fan base, you made it all worthwhile and I love you! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you!
“I look into the future with much excitement and great hope! I’ll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, “Up the Irons!”
IRON MAIDEN manager Rob Smallwood said that the band has “already chosen” its drummer and indicated that his identity will be revealed “very shortly.”
McBrain faced a health scare in January 2023. While at home in Boca Raton, he suffered a stroke that caused some paralysis.
He publicly addressed his health on July 19th during a performance with his band TITANIUM TART in Pompano Beach, Florida.
He said: “I’ve gotta be honest with you, it was a touch and go last year for me, because, as you probably know… If you don’t, TIA [transient ischemic attack] strokes aren’t fun. Some people get really bad reactions to ’em, like [they become] paralyzed, they can’t speak, they can’t walk and do whatnot. I couldn’t play — I was paralyzed on the right side. Fortunately, the Boca Raton Regional Hospital had this incredible OT [occupational therapy] section, and there’s a girl called Julie Blum that looked after me, and in three months, she had me playing again. And it ain’t the old Nicko, it’s not the old one by a long shot, but at least it’s part of me. And my band, bless their hearts, [IRON MAIDEN bassist] Steve Harris and the rest of the guys turn around and say, ‘If you can’t do something in a song, we just won’t do that song.’”
Expounding on the physical limitations resulting from his stroke, Nicko stated: “When we were rehearsing last year for ‘The Future Past Tour’, we were doing ‘Caught Somewhere In Time’ to open. Now there’s a middle section, it’s all snare drum on the record. I can’t play it. As you probably noticed, those of you nerds that are in the audience that go, ‘He didn’t do the drum fill.’ Well, that’s why, ’cause I f**king can’t do it. So anyway, Steve turned around to me and I said, ‘Okay, I’ve got an idea. if I do the double on the snare,’ and I played it for him and he went, ‘No. Have you got anything else?’ I went, ‘Yeah I’ll play it on the cymbal.’ ‘No. You got anything else?’ ‘That’s me spent, mate.’ So he turned around and he thought about for about half a minute. He’s standing in front of my drum set and he’s going, ‘Why don’t you play it straight?’ I went, ‘What?’ ‘Play a straight fill through it. Go ahead.’ I went, ‘You’re a f**king genius, Harry.’ And there’s me, the drummer, supposedly, [I’m] supposed to come up with all these ideas, and there’s Harry: ‘Play it straight, Nick.’ I didn’t even think of that. And so we rehearsed it from thereon in, and we play it straight, which I’m sure 90 percent of you don’t give a f**k about that bit anyway.”
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