IRON MAIDEN’s legendary drummer Nicko McBrain, who officially retired from touring with the band in December 2024, has hinted that he may still make occasional live appearances with his bandmates.
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]”
While stepping off the touring circuit, McBrain remains active with his side project, TITANIUM TART. The legendary drummer will be joined by a talented lineup of musicians for the four-show run: Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne on guitars, and Paolo Velazquez on vocals.
Fans can catch TITANIUM TART at the following Florida venues:
- July 19 – Piper’s Pub – Pompano Beach, FL
- July 25 – The Barn – Sanford, FL
- July 26 – OCC Road House – Clearwater, FL
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