Nicko McBrain, longtime drummer for Iron Maiden, took the stage for the final night of a four-date July run with his current band, Titanium Tart, in Clearwater, FL, this past weekend. It's been just over half a year since the 73-year-old officially stepped away from the band he helped define for over four decades, and the Florida native isn't done sharing his thoughts on that transition — or cracking jokes about it.
"All of you know that I stepped back from touring with Iron Maiden, and they've got a lovely lad [Simon Dawson playing with them now]. He's a baby. He's got a little tiny drum set," McBrain joked.
That trademark humor remains fully intact, but McBrain also took a moment to reflect more earnestly on his departure and the arrival of his replacement.
"But here's the thing: you may ask yourself, how do I feel about a new drummer taking my place after 42 years? Well, the simple answer is I'm still the best-looking bloke in Iron Maiden," he joked. "I don't know whether Simon would agree with me 'cause he probably thinks he's the best-looking [member of Iron Maiden], which I can assure you is not the case. Bless his heart. But he's doing a wonderful job and I'm glad that you lot have welcomed him to the family."
There's no bitterness in McBrain's voice, just the comfort of someone who knows what he brought to the table: "And regardless of whether or not he's me, he's not — there's no one that can replace me. I'm not saying to rub my ego or be like, 'I am the best drummer for Iron Maiden.' Not at all."
"Thank you for bringing him into the family," he added. "They're doing a splendid job out there, although Bruce's [Dickinson, Iron Maiden singer] timing is a little bit shaky here and there. But there's nothing new there."
McBrain also weighed in on one of the more divisive elements of Iron Maiden's current Run For Your Lives 50th-anniversary tour: the shift from physical stage props to digital screens.
"What do you guys think about the screens that they've got? Hands up who thinks they're great. Hands up, those people who prefer the old way."
The audience's mixed response gave McBrain an opening to share his own preferences — and his behind-the-scenes conversation with Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood.
"I know, and I spoke to Rod about this last year. 'Cause I saw the sketch with these screens, and I said to him, 'Hey, I don't think we should be [changing the way we do things].' He said, 'We've gotta move into the 21st century, Nick.' He said, 'This is the 50th-anniversary tour. We've gotta have something special.' I said, 'Well, then, put more drapes up. More drapes. Instead of 'The Trooper' just having Eddie on the horse with his sword out, have him firing the gun off the… whatever. You put another one halfway through the song. But that's what they went with."
"I'm old school," McBrain admitted. "I would've liked to see the drapes and the screens on the side."
Nicko McBrain announced his retirement in December 2024, formally ending his touring career with Iron Maiden after one final show at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. His departure marked the end of a 42-year tenure behind one of heavy metal's most iconic drum kits.
