Iron Maiden’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain announced Saturday that he is retiring from touring, with tonight’s concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil serving as his final show with the band.
“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,” McBrain, whose tenure with the heavy metal giants began in 1982, said in a statement.
“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!”
McBrain added that he will “remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects,” as well as “working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures,” but his days behind the kit on the band’s tours will end Saturday night.
“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!,’ he added.
McBrain has dealt with health issues in recent years, including suffering a stroke in 2023 that paralyzed the right side of his body and threatened his drumming career. However, after extensive therapy, McBrain was largely able to recover enough to join the group on their The Future Past Tour, which concludes with the Sao Paulo show.
In a statement, McBrain’s Iron Maiden band mates said to their longtime drummer, “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!”
The band added, “Ever since Rock in Rio in 1985 we have had a special relationship with Brazil so to bow out of touring in front of 90,000 fans here in Sao Paulo over 2 nights is poetic and you are deserving of all the accolades I am sure these marvellous fans will give you on this last show. The band and I all have a thousand great memories of the past 42 years, great gigs, copious platinum and gold discs and awards, love from the fans and one beer too many on too many occasions! Such a bond is forever! And, as Steve Harris says, ‘Nicko is and will always be part of the Maiden family.’”
Iron Maiden will embark on their Run for Your Lives World Tour in 2025, presumably with a new drummer in place by then.