IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain used his July 26 performance in Clearwater, Florida with his side project TITANIUM TART to comment on his exit from the band’s live activities — and share his thoughts on the future of MAIDEN without him on stage.
The Clearwater concert marked the final night in a series of four Florida shows for TITANIUM TART, a group that includes Rob Stokes (bass), Eldad Kira (keyboards), Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne (guitars), and Paolo Velazquez (vocals). Throughout the night, Nicko entertained the crowd with both music and candid commentary about his current status with IRON MAIDEN and the band’s ongoing “Run For Your Lives” 50th-anniversary tour.
As fans know, McBrain stepped back from touring with IRON MAIDEN following health issues that impacted his drumming in recent years. In his place, Simon Dawson has been filling in behind the kit on MAIDEN’s current run. During the show, Nicko didn’t shy away from discussing this transition.
“All of you know that I stepped back from touring with [IRON MAIDEN], and they’ve got a lovely lad [Simon Dawson playing with them now],” Nicko said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “He’s a baby. He’s got a little tiny drum set…
“But here’s the thing: you may ask yourself, how do I feel about a new drummer taking my place after 42 years? Well, the simple answer is I’m still the best-looking bloke in IRON MAIDEN,” he continued. “I don’t know whether Simon would agree with me ’cause he probably thinks he’s the best-looking [member of IRON MAIDEN], which I can assure you is not the case. Bless his heart. But he’s doing a wonderful job and I’m glad that you lot have welcomed him to the family. And regardless of whether or not he’s me, he’s not — there’s no one that can replace me. I’m not saying to rub my ego or be [like], ‘I am the best drummer for MAIDEN.’ Not at all.
“So, yeah, thank you for bringing him into the family,” McBrain added. “They’re doing a splendid job out there, although Bruce‘s [Dickinson, MAIDEN singer] timing is a little bit shaky here and there. But there’s nothing new there.”
Speaking with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM‘s Trunk Nation on July 16, the 73-year-old drummer reflected on his retirement decision and four-decade journey with MAIDEN. McBrain, who played his final full show with the band at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, cited age, health concerns, and the physical toll of constant touring as reasons for stepping away. “I wasn’t doing the songs justice because of the handicap that I had,” he explained. “The guys supported me 100% through ‘The Future Past Tour,’ and I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of brothers.”
Despite stepping away from touring, McBrain made it clear that the door isn’t completely closed. “It’s a possibility that when they come over here [to the U.S.], I might end up doing a show with them, just getting up and doing a song or two, or just being there,” he said. “If there is a new album in the pipeline, it’s a possibility I’ll do a couple of tracks on the album. Yeah, who knows? We’re all still part of the family, although I’m not playing the shows.”
McBrain praised his successor, Simon Dawson, who has taken over drumming duties for IRON MAIDEN. “he’s doing a fantastic job. I mean, he’s not me,” he said. “And they didn’t want somebody like me, like a Nicko clone or whatever. But he’s got his own fingerprint, which is great. And the one thing I’m really happy about is I’m still the best-looking bloke in IRON MAIDEN. [Laughs]”
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