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Iron Maiden has announced a new drummer following the decision of longtime percussionist Nicko McBrain to retire from live performances. The news was shared on December 7, with the 72-year-old musician revealing that his last concert with the band took place at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. This marked the conclusion of an era for the legendary rock group.
In a heartfelt statement, McBrain expressed a mix of sadness and relief about stepping back from the rigorous touring lifestyle. He extended his best wishes to the band for future endeavors, emphasizing that this decision came after careful thought. His statement is available on Iron Maiden’s official website.
Joining Iron Maiden in 1982, McBrain took over drummer duties from Clive Burr, who had recorded the band’s first three albums. Interestingly, this transition mirrored a role reversal—McBrain left the band Trust, where Burr subsequently became the drummer, creating a unique switching of places between the two musicians.
Although McBrain has been a prominent member since 1982, he was actually the second recent addition to the lineup, with only guitarist Janick Gers joining the band later in 1990.
On December 8, Iron Maiden officially introduced Simon Dawson as McBrain’s replacement. Dawson has a history with the band, having previously worked with co-founder Steve Harris on his British Lion project. In the band’s announcement, they expressed excitement over Dawson stepping into the role for the 2025 tour after completing a successful run of The Future Past Tour, which attracted over 1.4 million fans from various locations around the world.
Dawson, a native of Suffolk, England, has been collaborating with Harris since 2012 and has contributed to both British Lion albums, demonstrating his musical strength through extensive touring across multiple continents.
While McBrain will retire from touring, he plans to remain engaged with Iron Maiden through various projects. He conveyed his enthusiasm for future endeavors, wishing to channel his energy into personal ventures while supporting the band behind the scenes.
Looking ahead, McBrain expressed excitement for what lies ahead, assuring fans of his ongoing support for the band as well. He concluded with a positive message, signaling that this isn’t a farewell but rather a new chapter.
Iron Maiden is set to embark on The Run For Your Lives tour in 2025 to mark its 50th anniversary, beginning in Budapest on May 27, with 32 additional dates planned throughout Europe.
Source
www.billboard.com