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Besides the impressive 42 years, 14 studio albums, numerous live albums and tours with the band, the video below of the fans in Sao Paulo showing their love for Nicko is just as big as a reminder of the legacy and inspiration that Nicko is. Not only for the Iron Maiden fans, but also for the literally tens of thousands of drummers he inspired to play and Rock like a MF.

Drummerszone.com had more than once the opportuniy to meet, talk and film Nicko on various moments and occasions. Here we share two highlights of Nicko on video: one from his switch from Sonor to British Drum Company, and of course his 'Evening with Nicko McBrain' during the UK Drum Show in Manchester.

First the video's, then the three official statements from Nicko himself, Rod Smallwood on behalf of Iron Maiden, and one from Iron Maiden on Simon Dawson stepping in for the live shows.

The Trooper is Nicko McBrain's British Drum Co. practice kit on Iron Maiden tours
At Nicko McBrain's official inauguration as British Drum Co. artist and international ambassador, two kits were shown: his 'Legacy of the Beast' Iron Maiden tour drumset and 'The Trooper,' a 4-piece kit presented to Robinsons Brewery where Iron Maiden's Trooper beer is made and the set-up of Nicko McBrain's practice-kit during the Iron Maiden tours. In the video below, Nicko McBrain presents this stunning piece of art together with British Drum Co's Keith Keough, Al Murray and Ian Matthews.


An evening with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain [full show video]
An evening with Nicko McBrain behind the drums is always special. But when you put him together with British comedian and pub-landlord Al Murray you are guaranteed a unique and incredibly fun evening. Here is one hour and fifteen minutes with drum solos, jokes, a little guest drummer and spectacular stories filled with McBrainiacs from the icon himself, Nicko McBrain.


Nicko McBrain presents his 2020 British Drum Co 'Legacy of the Beast' drums
The moment legendary metal drummer Nicko McBrain made one of the biggest moves in the drum industry in decades.

Some Nicko McBrain/Iron Maiden-statistics

Nicko's Iron Maiden studio albums
Nicko McBrain joined the band in 1982, replacing Clive Burr. He made his recording debut with the band on the 1983 album 'Piece of Mind'. As of his leaving, he has recorded on 14 studio albums with Iron Maiden:

1. Piece of Mind (1983)
   
2. Powerslave (1984)
   
3. Somewhere in Time (1986)
   
4. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
   
5. No Prayer for the Dying (1990)
   
6. Fear of the Dark (1992)
   
7. The X Factor (1995)
   
8. Virtual XI (1998)
   
9. Brave New World (2000)
   
10. Dance of Death (2003)
    
11. A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
    
12. The Final Frontier (2010)
    
13. The Book of Souls (2015)
    
14. Senjutsu (2021)

Nicko's Iron Maiden Tours
Nicko McBrain has participated in 19 official Iron Maiden tours since joining the band in 1982. Here's the list of major tours he has been a part of:
(Note: official Iron Maiden tours tied to studio albums or special themes.)
1980s

• World Piece Tour (1983)
  
• World Slavery Tour (1984–1985)
  
• Somewhere on Tour (1986–1987)
  
• Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour (1988)

1990s

• No Prayer on the Road (1990–1991)
  
• Fear of the Dark Tour (1992)
  
• Real Live Tour (1993)
  
• The X Factour (1995–1996)
  
• Virtual XI World Tour (1998)

2000s

• Brave New World Tour (2000–2001)
  
• Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead Tour (2003)
  
• Dance of Death World Tour (2003–2004)
  
• Eddie Rips Up the World Tour (2005)
  
• A Matter of Life and Death Tour (2006–2007)

2010s

• The Final Frontier World Tour (2010–2011)
  
• Maiden England World Tour (2012–2014)
  
• The Book of Souls World Tour (2016–2017)

2020s

• Legacy of the Beast World Tour (2018–2022)
  
• The Future Past Tour (2023–2024)

Nicko's live albums with Iron Maiden
Nicko McBrain has contributed to 11 official live albums released by Iron Maiden since he joined the band in 1982. Here's a list of these live albums:
1980s

• Live After Death (1985)
  Recorded during the World Slavery Tour.

1990s

• A Real Live One (1993)
  Features performances from the Fear of the Dark Tour.
  
• A Real Dead One (1993)
  Features older songs performed during the Fear of the Dark Tour.
  
• Live at Donington (1993)
  Recorded at Donington Park during the Fear of the Dark Tour.

2000s

• Rock in Rio (2002)
  Recorded during the Brave New World Tour.
  
• Death on the Road (2005)
  Recorded during the Dance of Death World Tour.

2010s

• Flight 666 (2009)
  Recorded during the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.
  
• En Vivo! (2012)
  Recorded during The Final Frontier World Tour.

2020s

• The Book of Souls: Live Chapter (2017)
  Recorded during The Book of Souls World Tour.
  
• Nights of the Dead, Legacy of the Beast: Live in Mexico City (2020)
  Recorded during the Legacy of the Beast World Tour.
  
• Maiden England '88 (2013 re-release)
  While this live recording was from 1988 (Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour), it was officially released later and features Nicko McBrain.

Nicko McBrain on stage after final show

Thank You Nicko!#IronMaiden #NickoMcBrain pic.twitter.com/lKUzAWGZXZ

— Iron Maiden (@IronMaiden) December 10, 2024

Statement from Nicko McBrain:

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.

I will, however, remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I'll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain's Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!

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! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you!

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!”

- Nicko

Statement from Rod Smallwood on behalf of Iron Maiden:

Nicko,
And we all love you too!!

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!

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.

Phantom look forward to many more years of working with you on the projects you mentioned and I am sure we can find a few more special ones around the Maiden family and FC!

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'.

- Rod, Andy, Steve, Bruce, Davey, Adrian & Jan

Simon Dawson - the 'new' guy

An Announcement from Iron Maiden

As The Future Past Tour concludes after 81 shows to over 1.4 million fans, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to Sao Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the kit for 2025 is a name familiar to many of our fans – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve's rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion. A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the first British Lion album and all of the second critically acclaimed 'The Burning', plus the many subsequent tours in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand &, most recently, both Mexico and South America.

Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th Anniversary next year with The Run For Your Lives Tour starting in Budapest on May 27th.