This past December, IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain announced his retirement from live performances with the iconic heavy metal band, marking the end of an era.
Chaoszine recently sat down with the legendary drummer at his restaurant, Rock N’ Roll Ribs in Coral Springs, Florida, on January 29th, for an exclusive interview.
When asked when he made the decision to stop touring, Nicko said: “It was something that I had thought of last year, the year before in 23. I was thinking after the end of that tour, I was going, well, should I announce it to the band then? But I thought, no, I’ll get through the Future Past tour and then we’ll see. And let’s get that one out the way for us. And as we got to the North American tour, I thought, you know, it’s time to tie it up, Nick. Being in the band for 42 years… it wasn’t an easy decision by any means.
McBrain faced a health scare in January 2023. While at home in Boca Raton, he suffered a stroke that caused some paralysis.
McBrain 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.”
IRON MAIDEN will hit the road again in 2025 with the “Run For Your Lives” world tour, set to kick off in May.
Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and longtime bandmate of MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris in BRITISH LION, will take over as Nicko McBrain‘s replacement.
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