iron maidennicko mcbrain
18:24 Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Nicko McBrain may have stepped off the road after 42 years behind the kit for Iron Maiden, but the metal icon isn't slowing down. Today (Sept 10), Nicko McBrain unveiled Metal Sticks — a brand-new heavy metal podcast and video series co-hosted with Modern Drummer CEO David Frangioni.
Described as the ultimate heavy metal drumming show, Metal Sticks blends artist interviews, gear deep-dives, lessons, and McBrain's larger-than-life personality into one series.
"Heavy Metal, Drumming and Iron Maiden have been my life, and have given me so much," Nicko McBrain said. "Now David and I can host a show that brings the audience inside the process, celebrating Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden and the amazing community that it embodies. We created the show that we would love to watch as both fans and musicians alike."
Season One, streaming now on all platforms with a deluxe video version on YouTube, spans eight episodes and features:
- Face2Face: peer-to-peer interviews with icons like Alex Van Halen, Steve Vai, Charlie Benante, Ian Paice, and more.
- Listen With Nicko: a revival of McBrain's cult-favorite commentary segments from Maiden's The First Ten Years box set, updated for 2025.
- Wear, Tear and Care: pro tips from McBrain on gear upkeep and maintenance.
- Roll With Nicko: a tour of his personal archive of Iron Maiden snares, memorabilia, and unique rock'n'roll relics collected over 50 years.
Frangioni called the project a natural fit: "Drumming, Modern Drummer and the entire world of Heavy Metal are such a passionate group of fans that it was a natural fit to collaborate with Nicko and Iron Maiden. My career working with iconic artists combined with Nicko's incredible journey brings each episode to life with both entertainment and infotainment that we can uniquely discuss with musicians, fans and Metal Heads of all ages."
From education to storytelling to a vault of Maiden lore, Metal Sticks promises to inspire players and entertain fans alike.
