Iron Maiden: here’s who the band’s new drummer is

Without wasting time, in the aftermath of the announcement of the farewell of Nicko McBrain, who last night in Sao Paulo held his last concert with the band (which he had joined in 1982), Iron Maiden have already announced the name of the new drummer: it’s Simon Dawson.

The drummer’s name will sound familiar to fans of the British heavy metal group: in fact he plays from British Lion, the “parallel” project to Iron Maiden of the band’s bassist, Steve Harris. Dawson will make his debut as Iron Maiden’s drummer on May 27th, when the band “The Trooper” will kick off their new tour, “Run for you lives”, from Budapest, Hungary. The tour also includes a stop in Italy next summer: Iron Maiden will perform on July 13th at the Euganeo Stadium in Padua.

Suffering a stroke in January 2023, Nicko McBrain returned to perform with Iron Maiden four months later.

This summer he explained how his bandmates had supported him and changed their setlists to accommodate him: “It’s not the old Nicko – it’s not the old one at all. But at least it’s part of me. And my band, which Bless their hearts, Steve Harris and the rest of the guys turn around and say, ‘If you can’t do something in a song, we’re not going to make that song.'” In recent months, however, he has made the decision to take a step back: “After much reflection, it is with pain and joy that I announce my decision to take a step back from the routine and tiring lifestyle of the tour”, he told the eve of last night’s concert in Sao Paulo. In his statement, McBrain promised to “remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family” and to continue working on a number of existing projects and endeavors: “Touring with Maiden for the past 42 years has been an incredible journey. To my bandmates of band: you made the dream come true and I love you! I look to the future with much excitement and great hope! See you soon, God bless you all and of course ‘Up the Irons!’ .