Iron Maiden is Losing a Band Member Audio Ink Radio

Iron Maiden is Losing a Band Member

2024-12-07

A longtime member of Iron Maiden is stepping down from touring after 42 years with the heavy metal band. – Author: Cat Badra, photo via John Mcmurtrie

When a band has been around as long as Iron Maiden, eventually, members are going to retire. Sometimes, these classic bands just keep going with new members, and other times, these band just retire as a whole. Rush is a good example of a band that just retired following drummer Neil Peart’s sad death in 2020.

Now, a member of Iron Maiden is retiring from touring, but the show will go on, as Iron Maiden still have a bunch of tour dates ahead of them.

Iron Maiden Drummer Nicko McBrain Announces Retirement from Touring

Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has been with the band for an impressive 42 years. But, on Saturday, December 7, McBrain announced his retirement from touring with the metal legends. This final show will be Saturday in São Paulo, Brazil. It’s wild to think that people who picked up a ticket to that show had no idea at the time that it would be McBrain’s last with Maiden.

McBrain suffered a stroke in January 2023, but he didn’t mention his heath as a deciding factor in the retirement. Instead, he said that he wished to “step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle.” It’s true that touring can be a tough grind, and seeing that McBrain is 72 years old, it’s likely not getting any easier.

McBrain became a member of Iron Maiden in 1982 and has played on every album from 1983’s “Piece of Mind” through 2021’s “Senjutsu.” It’s really impossible to imagine Iron Maiden’s classic, British heavy metal sound with McBrain, since he had an integral part in shaping the band’s rhythm section. Iron Maiden say in a statement that they’ve already selected a new drummer and will announce that drummer “very shortly.”

Nicko McBrain Will Still Work With Iron Maiden

The good news for McBrain fans is that even though he’s retiring from touring, he’ll “remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects.”

In his statement to the world, the drummer noted, “I will, however, remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I’ll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs.”

He added that touring with Maiden “has been an incredible journey” and thanked his “devoted fan base,” who he says “made it all worthwhile.” He also thanked his “devoted wife, Rebecca,” adding that ,”you made it infinitely easier.” He also sent love to both his wife and fans.

“I look into the future with much excitement and great hope,” he added. “I’ll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, ‘Up the Irons.'”

In the band issued a statement from Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood on behalf of co-manager Andy Taylor and the rest of the band members, thanking McBrain for “being an irrepressible force behind the drum kit for Maiden for 42 years and my friend for even longer.” In the statement, they also say they’ll miss McBrain “immensely” and that they love him.

Author
Recent Posts

Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.

Search