Iron Maiden Announce New Touring Drummer Following Final Live Send-Off for Nicko McBrain

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Iron Maiden Announce New Touring Drummer Following Final Live Send-Off for Nicko McBrain

British heavy metal icons Iron Maiden marked the end of an era past weekend with drummer Nicko McBrain performing his final live show with the band. The 72-year-old legend announced his retirement from touring on December 7th, making the band’s set at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, a poignant farewell.

During the concert, McBrain’s remarkable career and contributions to Iron Maiden were honored onstage. Early in the set, vocalist Bruce Dickinson delivered an emotional speech before performing “The Writing On the Wall”, saying:

“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.

For 42 years Nicko‘s been in this band. He was a drummer before I was a singer, he was a pilot before I was a pilot, and now he’s done. [He’s] not leaving the band, but he’s just not playing live with us anymore… Let him know how much he’s loved everybody.

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, Alright? And with that, on we go!”

In addition to the natural challenges of performing Iron Maiden’s demanding sets at 72, Nicko McBrain has faced significant health hurdles in recent years. These include a mini-stroke in January 2023 and a battle with laryngeal cancer in 2021, both of which have influenced his decision to step back from live performances.

Despite his touring retirement, McBrain will remain a member of Iron Maiden’s roster, contributing offstage to the band’s legacy. For future live engagements, Iron Maiden announced, that Simon Dawson, drummer for British Lion (bassist Steve Harris’ side project), will step in as McBrain’s successor.

Iron Maiden issued the following statement regarding the transition:

“An Announcement from Iron Maiden

As The Future Past Tour concludes after 81 shows to over 1.4 million fans, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to Sao Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the kit for 2025 is a name familiar to many of our fans – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve’s rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion. A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the first British Lion album and all of the second critically acclaimed ‘The Burning’, plus the many subsequent tours in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand &, most recently, both Mexico and South America.

Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th Anniversary next year with The Run For Your Lives Tour starting in Budapest on May 27th.”