Nicko McBrain, longtime drummer for Iron Maiden, took the stage for the ultimate night time of a four-date July run with his present band, Titanium Tart, in Clearwater, FL, this previous weekend. It has been simply over half a yr because the 73-year-old formally stepped away from the band he helped outline for over 4 a long time, and the Florida native is not completed sharing his ideas on that transition — or cracking jokes about it.
“All of you recognize that I stepped again from touring with Iron Maiden, and so they’ve obtained a beautiful lad [Simon Dawson playing with them now]. He is a child. He is obtained a bit of tiny drum set,” McBrain joked.
That trademark humor stays totally intact, however McBrain additionally took a second to replicate extra earnestly on his departure and the arrival of his alternative.
“However this is the factor: it’s possible you’ll ask your self, how do I really feel a few new drummer taking my place after 42 years? Effectively, the easy reply is I am nonetheless the best-looking bloke in Iron Maiden,” he joked. “I do not know whether or not Simon would agree with me ‘trigger he most likely thinks he is the best-looking [member of Iron Maiden], which I can guarantee you is just not the case. Bless his coronary heart. However he is doing an exquisite job and I am glad that you simply lot have welcomed him to the household.”
There isn’t any bitterness in McBrain‘s voice, simply the consolation of somebody who is aware of what he dropped at the desk: “And no matter whether or not or not he is me, he isn’t — there is no one that may substitute me. I am not saying to rub my ego or be like, ‘I’m the very best drummer for Iron Maiden.’ By no means.”
“Thanks for bringing him into the household,” he added. “They’re doing a splendid job on the market, though Bruce‘s [Dickinson, Iron Maiden singer] timing is a bit of bit shaky right here and there. However there’s nothing new there.”
McBrain additionally weighed in on one of many extra divisive components of Iron Maiden‘s present Run For Your Lives 50th-anniversary tour: the shift from bodily stage props to digital screens.
“What do you guys take into consideration the screens that they have? Fingers up who thinks they’re nice. Fingers up, these individuals who want the outdated means.”
The viewers’s blended response gave McBrain a gap to share his personal preferences — and his behind-the-scenes dialog with Iron Maiden supervisor Rod Smallwood.
“I do know, and I spoke to Rod about this final yr. ‘Trigger I noticed the sketch with these screens, and I stated to him, ‘Hey, I do not suppose we must be [changing the way we do things].’ He stated, ‘We have gotta transfer into the twenty first century, Nick.’ He stated, ‘That is the Fiftieth-anniversary tour. We have gotta have one thing particular.’ I stated, ‘Effectively, then, put extra drapes up. Extra drapes. As an alternative of ‘The Trooper’ simply having Eddie on the horse together with his sword out, have him firing the gun off the… no matter. You place one other one midway by way of the music. However that is what they went with.”
“I am old skool,” McBrain admitted. “I’d’ve preferred to see the drapes and the screens on the facet.”
Nicko McBrain introduced his retirement in December 2024, formally ending his touring profession with Iron Maiden after one closing present at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. His departure marked the top of a 42-year tenure behind one among heavy steel’s most iconic drum kits.
Enter your info under to get a day by day replace with all of our headlines and obtain The Orchard Metallic e-newsletter.
