Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has opened up about his “mixed emotions” following his decision to retire from touring with the band.
In a recent interview, McBrain discussed how he adjusted his drumming approach during Maiden’s Future Past tour—his final run with the legendary group.
After suffering a stroke in 2023, McBrain experienced challenges with dexterity, leading him to scale back or completely omit certain drum fills in various songs.
“It’s funny, because sometimes when I sit at my practice kit, I can do the big drum fill in the intro to The Trooper,” he told Classic Rock. “But even then, it’s a bit flaky—it’s not clean.”
In a separate conversation with Chaoszine, McBrain explained the emotional and practical aspects behind his retirement.
“I kind of made my mind up when we got to North America and talked to the boys about it, mainly Steve [Harris, bassist], and then management,” he shared. “And everybody went, ‘Okay. If that’s what you wanna do, we understand.’”
The decision, however, was not without its struggles.
“There are days when I wake up thinking, ‘I’m gonna miss the next tour, and I won’t be able to go out on the road,’” he admitted. “I wish I could still play with the guys. I wish I had my full fitness.”
Reflecting on his performances during The Future Past tour, McBrain acknowledged that he felt he was unable to deliver at his highest level.
“I felt that I couldn’t give it 100 percent, certainly on The Trooper and other songs,” he said. “We made do, we got through it okay, but I felt that I wasn’t able to drive the band the way I wanted to.”
Ultimately, McBrain believes stepping away was the right choice.
“It wasn’t an easy decision by any means, but it was the best one at the end of the day,” he concluded.
“Admittedly, I have good days and bad days. The bad days are when I think, ‘I won’t be out on those stages anymore, looking at our wonderful fans,’ but at the end of the day, that’s why I’m not doing it. Actually, I’m not doing it because it was just too much for me.”
Related Topics
- Lander University Piano Ensemble to Present Video Game-Themed Recital
- Reviving Pub Piano: Trev The Pianoman Keeps a Fading Tradition Alive
- Keith Moon’s Isolated Drum Track Proves He Was Ahead of His Time
