Nicko McBrain Announces Final Show with Iron Maiden
Drummer Nicko McBrain has announced he’s playing his final show with Iron Maiden tonight (December 7).
McBrain shared the news in a statement via Iron Maiden’s website. McBrain began, “After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle. Today, Sat, Dec 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with Iron Maiden. I wish the band much success moving forward.”
He continued, “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!
McBrain added, “What can I say? Touring with Maiden the last 42 years has been an incredible journey! To my devoted fan base, you made it all worthwhile and I love you! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you!”
He concluded, “I look into the future with much excitement and great hope! I’ll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, ‘Up the Irons!'”
In August 2023, McBrain revealed he suffered a stroke in January of that year. At the time, he shared, in part, ” …Thank the Lord it was a minor one referred to as a TIA. It left me paralyzed on my right side from my shoulder on down.”
When he shared this news, he noted he was “somewhere near 70% recovered” and was “concentrating on getting back to 100% fitness.”
Maiden manager Rod Smallwood said in his own statement in August 2023, “The rest of the band and l think that what Nicko has been able to achieve since his stroke shows incredible belief and willpower and we are all very proud of him…We honestly did not know if he would be able to play a whole show until band rehearsals started in May and there was just so much support for him from the band and then genuine relief for all when we saw he was going to be able to do it!”
