After more than four decades behind the drum kit for IRON MAIDEN, Nicko McBrain has spoken candidly about his retirement and the man stepping into his formidable shoes — longtime Steve Harris collaborator Simon Dawson.
In a recent feature for the Iron Maiden Fan Club (IMFC) magazine, McBrain addressed the transition with both humility and pride, offering fans a heartfelt message about the band’s new chapter.
“It’s going to be a little different,” Nicko acknowledged. “It’s not me, of course, but every drummer has his own style, and he’s going to leave his mark. Welcome him: embrace him as part of the family and don’t compare me to him. Let him go his own way, he’s a good musician. And look, he’s been playing with Steve for 12 years…”
The 72-year-old drumming legend officially retired from live performances this past December, closing his touring chapter with a powerful farewell at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. While he steps away from the rigors of touring, McBrain assured fans that he remains part of the MAIDEN machine, contributing to behind-the-scenes projects and personal endeavors.
Simon Dawson‘s transition into the band comes with both the blessing of McBrain and the enthusiastic endorsement of frontman Bruce Dickinson. During a recent appearance at the Musicians Institute’s MI Conversation Series in Hollywood, Dickinson shared insight into the careful process of integrating Dawson into the MAIDEN fold — a move that was already in motion during the band’s previous tour.
“Simon was tagging along with BRITISH LION,” Bruce explained, referencing bassist Steve Harris‘s side project. “But it was kind of insurance for us because we weren’t sure… We were hoping Nick was gonna make the tour, but there were some times when… We were worried. We were, like, ‘We do not want to end up with Nick in hospital, and we do need to have a backup.’”
That backup quickly proved to be much more than a contingency. In an impromptu rehearsal session in Portland, Oregon, Dawson stunned the band with his grasp of the entire MAIDEN set — unrehearsed, unphased, and undeniably tight.
“Honestly, I was pleasantly shocked,” Bruce said. “We went through the whole set without a break… And it was all there. I thought, ‘My God, we could do a show tonight if we had to. That’s unreal.’”
Dickinson emphasized that MAIDEN wasn’t looking for a clone of McBrain — or of anyone else. Dawson’s own feel, particularly reminiscent of late drummer Clive Burr’s swing-infused style, brought a fresh yet familiar dimension to the band’s sound.
“If I closed my eyes at moments during that rehearsal, it was like having Clive Burr back in the band,” Bruce recalled. “He has all the same influences and everything. And I was just, like, ‘Oh my God. Wow.’”
Dawson will make his live debut with IRON MAIDEN as the band kicks off their “Run For Your Lives” world tour on May 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
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