Music|Nicko McBrain managed to act as the band’s drummer for more than 40 years.
Iron Maiden’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain announces that he will stop gigging.
Published on the band’s website in the bulletin McBrain says that today’s gig in São Paulo, Brazil will be his last.
“However, I remain strictly part of the Iron Maiden family, working on various projects that my long-term managers Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor have planned for me.”
In the press release, the band’s manager Rod Smallwood thanks McBrain for the years together.
“We’ve had a special relationship with Brazil ever since 1985’s Rock in Rio, so ending the tour in front of 90,000 fans here in Sao Paulo over two nights is poetic,” the band writes.
At the same time, the band reveals that the band has already chosen its replacement drummer and will soon announce who it is.
McBrain has suffered from health problems in recent years. Rolling Stone magazine according to McBrain suffered a stroke in 2023 that paralyzed the right side of his body and threatened his drumming career.
McBrain became the band’s previous drummer Clive Burrin replaced in 1982. Burr was on Iron Maiden’s first three records. Published in 1983 Piece of Mind was the first record that McBrain was on.
Iron Maiden is coming to a gig at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in June 2025. It is the band’s 50th anniversary tour.