Iron Maiden star quits band after 42 years – as his replacement hinted at amid emotional farewell
AN Iron Maiden star has quit the iconic rock band, with his replacement revealed over the weekend.
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain announced on Saturday (December 7) that he was quitting touring with the rock band after 42 years.
Nicko, whose real name is Michael Henry McBrain, revealed on Saturday that he was retiring from the group and would no longer be joining them on stage for live performances or tours.
Revealing the news unexpectedly, the announcement was made before what would mark his final show with the band at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil.
Bruce Dickinson, the lead vocalist of the legendary heavy metal band, addressed his bandmate’s retirement before crooning The Writing On The Wall.
“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,” Bruce said.
He added: “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 not leaving the band, but he’s just not playing live with us anymore.”
Bruce continued: “So, we have a lot more music to get to tonight, and I want the rest of the night to be a celebration of Nicko, a celebration of the joy that he’s brought to everybody around the world, not just here in Brazil.
“All right? And with that, on we go,” he added before they crooned The Writing On The Wall.
When Nicko announced his retirement on Saturday morning, he said: “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.
“I wish the band much success moving forward.”
EMOTIONAL FAREWELL
He went on to add: “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!”
Nicko likely delighted fans when he confirmed that he will continue to be involved in “a variety of projects” with Iron Maiden, while also focusing on personal ventures and his existing businesses.
He added: “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!”
Iron Maiden's career timeline
1975: Formation
Iron Maiden was formed on Christmas Day in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The original line-up included Harris, Dave Sullivan (guitar), Terry Rance (guitar), Ron “Rebel” Matthews (drums), and Paul Day (vocals).
1980: Debut Album
Iron Maiden released their self-titled debut album, “Iron Maiden”. The album was well-received and included tracks like “Phantom of the Opera” and “Running Free”.
1981: ‘Killers’ and New Guitarist
The band released their second album, “Killers”. Adrian Smith joined as the second guitarist, solidifying the twin-guitar sound that would become a signature of the band.
1982: ‘The Number of the Beast’ and Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson replaced Paul Di’Anno as the lead vocalist. The band released “The Number of the Beast”, which became a massive success and included iconic tracks like “Run to the Hills” and the title track.
1983-1984: ‘Piece of Mind’ and ‘Powerslave’
The band released “Piece of Mind” (1983) and “Powerslave” (1984), both of which were highly successful and included classics like “The Trooper” and “2 Minutes to Midnight”.
1985: ‘Live After Death’
Iron Maiden released their first live album, “Live After Death”, recorded during the “World Slavery Tour”.
1986: ‘Somewhere in Time’
The band released “Somewhere in Time”, which featured a more futuristic sound and the use of guitar synthesisers. Key tracks included “Wasted Years” and “Heaven Can Wait”.
1988: ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’
The concept album “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” was released, featuring tracks like “Can I Play with Madness” and “The Evil That Men Do”.
1990-1993: Line-up Changes and ‘Fear of the Dark’
Adrian Smith left the band and was replaced by Janick Gers. The band released “No Prayer for the Dying” (1990) and “Fear of the Dark” (1992), the latter including the title track which became a fan favourite.
1993: Bruce Dickinson Departs
Bruce Dickinson left the band to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Blaze Bayley.
1995-1998: Blaze Bayley Era
During Bayley’s tenure, the band released “The X Factor” (1995) and “Virtual XI” (1998). These albums received mixed reviews and the band’s popularity waned.
1999: Return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith
Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith rejoined Iron Maiden, revitalising the band’s line-up. Janick Gers remained, making Iron Maiden a six-member band.
2000: ‘Brave New World’
The band released “Brave New World”, which was well-received and marked a strong comeback with tracks like “The Wicker Man” and “Blood Brothers”.
2003-2015: Continued Success
Iron Maiden released several successful albums including “Dance of Death” (2003), “A Matter of Life and Death” (2006), “The Final Frontier” (2010), and “The Book of Souls” (2015).
2021: ‘Senjutsu’
The band released “Senjutsu”, their seventeenth studio album, which continued to receive critical acclaim and showcased their enduring legacy in the heavy metal genre.
Iron Maiden released a statement following Nicko’s announcement, with the Rod Smallwood, the band’s manager, writing: “Thank you for being an irrepressible force behind the drum kit for Maiden for 42 years and my friend for even longer.
“I speak on behalf of all the band when I say we will miss you immensely!”
He added: “To bow out of touring in front of 90,000 fans here in São Paulo over two nights is poetic.
“Nicko is and will always be part of the MAIDEN family.”
Rod then revealed that the band has “already chosen” its new drummer for live performances following Nicko’s departure, with it hinted that the new drummer’s identity will be revealed “very shortly”.
Nicko’s decision to retire from touring and playing live with the band come after a slew of health issues he has endured in recent years.
HEALTH WOES
In 2023, the drummer had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.
Releasing a statement that summer, Nicko shared a statement where he expressed his gratitude that his stroke was “a minor one”.
He then revealed at the time: “It left me paralyzed on my right side from my shoulder on down, of course I was very worried that my career was over.
“But with the love and support from my wife, Rebecca and family, my doctors, especially Julie my OT (Occupational Therapist), and my Maiden family I was able to bounce back to somewhere near 70% recovered.”