IRON MAIDEN Announces New Live Drummer

Longtime Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain sadly played his last live show with Iron Maiden on December 7. Whereas McBrain continues to be concerned with the band outdoors touring issues, Iron Maiden clearly wanted a brand new reside drummer for all their touring wants. Enter Simon Dawson, who performs with founding Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris within the band British Lion. Dawson will make his debut behind the equipment for Iron Maiden on Could 27, 2025 in Budapest on the Budapest Aréna.

“As The Future Previous Tour concludes after 81 exhibits to over 1.4 million followers, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to Sao Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the equipment for 2025 is a reputation acquainted to lots of our followers – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve‘s rhythm part companion of the previous 12 years with British Lion,” wrote Iron Maiden. “A local of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris again in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the primary British Lion album and the entire second critically acclaimed The Burning, plus the numerous subsequent excursions within the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand &, most lately, each Mexico and South America.

“Iron Maiden have fun their 50^th Anniversary subsequent yr with The Run For Your Lives Tour beginning in Budapest on Could 27^th.”

McBrain has drummed for Iron Maiden since 1982 and notable suffered a stroke in January 2023, making playing Iron Maiden songs live a little more difficult.

“After a lot consideration, it’s with each sorrow and pleasure, I announce my choice to take a step again from the grind of the intensive touring way of life,” wrote McBrain upon his departure. “Right this moment, Saturday, December 7^th, Sao Paulo will probably be my remaining gig with Iron Maiden. I want the band a lot success shifting ahead.

“I’ll, nevertheless, stay firmly a part of the Iron Maiden household engaged on a wide range of initiatives, my very long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, take into account for me. I will even be engaged on a wide range of completely different private initiatives and specializing in my current companies and ventures, together with The British Drum Firm, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and naturally, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!

“What can I say? Touring with Maiden the final 42 years has been an unimaginable journey! To my devoted fan base, you made all of it worthwhile and I like you! To my devoted spouse, Rebecca, you made it infinitely simpler and I like you! To my children, Justin and Nicholas, thanks for understanding the absences and I like you! To my associates which are all the time there for me, I like you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I like you!

“I look into the long run with a lot pleasure and nice hope! I will be seeing you quickly, might God bless you all, and, in fact, ‘Up the Irons!'”

Iron Maiden‘s supervisor Rod Smallwood additionally commented on McBrain stepping down from reside exhibits, saying: “Nicko, and all of us love you too!! Thanks for being an irrepressible power behind the drum equipment for Maiden for 42 years and my pal for even longer. I communicate on behalf of all of the band once I say we are going to miss you immensely!

“Ever since Rock In Rio in 1985 we’ve had a particular relationship with Brazil so to bow out of touring in entrance of 90,000 followers right here in Sao Paulo over 2 nights is poetic and you’re deserving of all of the accolades I’m positive these marvellous followers offers you on this final present.

“Phantom look ahead to many extra years of working with you on the initiatives you talked about and I’m positive we will discover just a few extra particular ones across the Maiden household and FC!

“The band and I all have a thousand nice reminiscences of the previous 42 years, nice gigs, copious platinum and gold discs and awards, love from the followers and one beer too many on too many events! Such a bond is without end! And, as Steve Harris says, ‘Nicko is and can all the time be a part of the Maiden household’.

“P.S. Maiden all the time get their man and our already chosen new drummer will probably be introduced very shortly.”