Nicko McBrain retires from touring with Iron Maiden after 42 years
He has released a statement to fans
Last updated 8th Dec 2024
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has announced he’s retiring from touring after 42 glorious years.
The 72-year-old rock legend, who replaced Clive Burr in Iron Maiden in 1982, has issued a statement to fans confirming that tonight’s concert at Sao Paolo’s Allianz Parque stadium will be his last with Maiden.
The show is the final night of Iron Maiden’s The Future Past Tour, before they celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2025 on the Run For Your Lives Tour.
Nicko suffered a stroke in early 2023 but recovered sufficiently to play drums with Maiden on the 81-date Future Past World Tour.
Nicko McBrain said: “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”
Iron Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood said on behalf of the band: “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
“P.S. Maiden always get their man and our already chosen new drummer will be announced very shortly.”
Iron Maiden's legendary career in photos:
Iron Maiden's career beginnings
Bassist and sole constant band member Steve Harris founded Iron Maiden on Christmas Day 1975 after he exited his previous group Smiler for ventures new. Harris took the band's moniker from the medieval iron maiden torture device after watching the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask. Alongside Harris, the first incarnation of Iron Maiden featured vocalist Paul Day, guitarists Terry Rance and Dave Sullivan, and drummer Ron Matthews. The band made their live debut at St Nick's Hall in Poplar on 1st May 1976 and soon took up a residency at the Cart & Horses Pub in Maryland, Stratford, which rightfully calls itself The Birthplace of Iron Maiden.
Iron Maiden's debut recording 'The Soundhouse Tapes'
Iron Maiden underwent numerous line-up changes throughout the late 70s with singer Paul Day the first to get axed in favour of Dennis Wilcock who mimicked his favourite band by wearing make-up and using fake blood during performances. Other members throughout this period included drummers Barry Purkis and Doug Sampson, keyboardist Tony Moore, and guitarists Bob Sawyer and Terry Wapram. Current Iron Maiden axeman Dave Murray joined Iron Maiden in 1976 but was sacked a year later following an argument with Wilcock. When Wilcock left 1978, Murray was reinstated to the band and has remained a constant member of Iron Maiden ever since. Paul Di'Anno was recruited as vocalist in November 1978 and shortly before New Year, Iron Maiden recorded the three-track EP 'The Soundhouse Tapes', which was limited to 5,000 copies and is now a highly sought-after collector's item.
Iron Maiden's 1980 line-up
Now guided by long-term manager Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden penned a major record deal with EMI in 1979. With Dennis Stratton recruited as their second guitarist and ex-Samson drummer Clive Burr replacing Doug Sampson, who left for medical reasons, the five-strong band kicked off the 1980s by playing 11 dates of the now-legendary Metal for Muthas Tour, which was headlined at alternate dates by Motörhead, Samson, and Saxon. Pictured is Iron Maiden's Clive Burr, Dave Murray, Steve Harris, Dennis Stratton and Paul Di'Anno walking through a park in 1980.
Eddie the Head makes his debut
Iron Maiden released their debut single 'Running Free' on 8th February 1980 coinciding with the Metal for Muthas Tour. The single features the very first appearance of Iron Maiden's beloved mascot Eddie the Head. His creator, Portsmouth born artist Derek Riggs, obscured the face to build an enigmatic aura ahead of the release of their self-titled debut album two months later. Eddie had already been appearing at Iron Maiden shows for a number of years and was originally a papier-mâché head created by the band's lighting technician Dave "Lights" Beazley, before he soon evolved into a fibreglass head. Eddie has been an ever-evolving mainstay of Iron Maiden's albums, merchandise and live shows ever since and he's easily the greatest mascot in rock history.
Iron Maiden - 'Iron Maiden' (1980)
Iron Maiden's self-titled debut album 'Iron Maiden' was unleashed in the UK on 14th April 1980, and it stormed straight in at number 4 on the album chart. The band's only record to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton and to be produced by Wil Malone, the eight-song album was widely lauded by critics for its rampant ferocity and blistering and uncompromising heavy metal sounds. Mascot Eddie's proper horrorshow face was revealed to the world for the first time thanks to the striking Derek Riggs sketch on the sleeve.
Debut headline tour and Adrian Smith joins Iron Maiden
After cutting their cloth supporting Judas Priest on their British Steel tour, Iron Maiden embarked on their inaugural headline UK solo tour in April 1980 before hitting the road opening for KISS that summer. Following the high profile KISS trek, Dennis Stratton was sacked from Iron Maiden in October 1980 due to creative and personal differences, and Adrian Smith from Dave Murray's former band Urchin was recruited as his replacement. Pictured is Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Paul Di'Anno, Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in early 1981.
Iron Maiden - 'Killers' (1981)
Iron Maiden's second studio album 'Killers' was released on 2nd February 1981 and it was written almost entirely by Steve Harris. Interestingly, most of the tracks – except 'Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'Prodigal Son' – predate the band's debut album, however they hadn't been recorded professionally until the band joined forces with producer Martin Birch, who went on to helm their next eight studio albums. 'Killers' peaked at number 12 in the UK and spent eight weeks on the chart, eventually shifting more than 100,000 units. The artwork depicts a murderous Eddie holding a blood-smeared axe as his unfortunate victim claws at his chest. The block of flats in the background is based on where artist Derek Riggs was living at the time.
Iron Maiden's first world tour
Following the release of 'Killers', Iron Maiden embarked on their first world tour – the aptly entitled Killer World Tour. Opening in Ipswich on 17th February 1981, the extensive tour featured 131 shows across the UK, Europe, Japan, United States and Canada. Singer Paul Di'Anno didn't complete the tour, however, as he was fired from Iron Maiden due to his increasingly volatile behaviour and waning live performances linked to his excessive drug use. Paul Di'Anno's final show was at Odd Fellows Mansion in Copenhagen, Denmark on 10th September 1981. Pictured are Iron Maiden wearing traditional Kendo uniforms during their first visit to Japan in May 1981 while flanked by two Eddie the Head characters.
Iron Maiden poke fun at the departing Paul Di'Anno
The original cover of September 1981's 'Maiden Japan' live EP depicted Eddie clutching the decapitated head of the then frontman Paul Di'Anno. Maiden manager Rod Smallwood swiftly ordered a redraft when he saw it as the band were preparing to oust Di'Anno. Despite Smallwood's best efforts, the EP was released with the original sleeve in South America.
Iron Maiden recruit Samson's Bruce Dickinson
Pictured is a 23-year-old Bruce Dickinson of British heavy metal band Samson in August 1981. After bumping into Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood at Reading Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend, Bruce Dickinson auditioned for Iron Maiden in September 1981 and was swiftly recruited to their ranks. Dickinson played his first concerts with Iron Maiden in Italy that October before playing the Rainbow Theatre and Ruskin Arms in London in the run-up to Christmas.
Iron Maiden - 'The Number of the Beast' (1982)
With Bruce Dickinson as their new powerhouse vocalist, Iron Maiden released their third studio effort 'The Number of the Beast' in March 1982 and it climbed to Number 1 in the UK the following month. Boasting fan favourites including 'Run to the Hills', 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and title track 'The Number of the Beast', the record is rightfully regarded as a masterpiece to this very day and a landmark album of the heavy metal genre. The equally seminal artwork for 'The Number of the Beast' was originally meant to be used on the cover of single 'Purgatory' eight months earlier, however, the band were so overawed that they asked Riggs to hold it back for their next album. An iconic image of Eddie holding Satan like a puppet and Satan clutching an even smaller Eddie, it was all too predictably condemned by staunch Christian groups in America.
Iron Maiden upset Christian groups in the US
Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, Adrian Smith, Steve Harris, Clive Burr and Dave Murray hit the Queens pub in Islington, London in 1982 following the release of 'The Number of the Beast.' In support of the blockbuster album, Iron Maiden embarked on The Beast on the Road tour across North America, Japan, Australia, and Europe, which featured a coveted headline slot at Reading Festival. In the southern states of the US, Iron Maiden were met with protests from Christian groups who accused them of being Satanists because of their album title track. Unsurprisingly, the protests gave Iron Maiden some welcome free publicity Stateside.
Nicko McBrain replaces Clive Burr
In December 1982, drummer Clive Burr was ousted from Iron Maiden in somewhat acrimonious circumstances. Steve Harris maintained that the firing was due to Burr's offstage antics affecting his performances, while Burr claimed his dismissal was unfair. Iron Maiden drafted in Nicko McBrain, formerly of the rock bands Sleepwalkers and Trust, as Burr's replacement and Maiden soon decamped to Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas to commence work on their next album. Pictured is Iron Maiden backstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Wisconsin in 1983.
Iron Maiden - 'Piece of Mind' (1983)
Iron Maiden unleashed their fourth album 'Piece of Mind' on 16th May 1983 and it peaked at Number 3 in the UK. A lyrically weighty musical opus packed with an array of cultural and historical references including Greek mythology ('Flight of Icarus'), Alfred, Lord Tennyson's The Charge of the Light Brigade ('The Trooper') and the life of samurai Miyamoto Musashi ('Sun and Steel'), musically 'Piece of Mind' packed a punch too and it saw the band finely hone their trademark heavy metal sound. Poking fun at their Satanism accusations, album track 'Still Life' featured a hidden message that could only be deciphered when played backwards. The album artwork saw Eddie undergo a dramatic transformation into a deranged, lobotomised mental patient complete with shackles and straitjacket.
Iron Maiden's World Piece Tour
Iron Maiden on their tour bus in September 1983 during the US leg of the World Piece Tour. A relentless trek, Maiden played 150 shows in seven months across the UK, Europe and North America. Bruce Dickinson noted in 2016 that their tour bus during the eighties was "the subject of all manner of shenanigans." The mind boggles...
Iron Maiden - 'Powerslave' (1984)
Very much keeping up the ante, Iron Maiden released their fifth album 'Powerslave' just 16 months after 'Piece of Mind' in September 1984. Once again recorded at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas with producer Martin Birch at the helm, 'Powerslave' featured the towering singles '2 Minutes to Midnight' and 'Aces High' plus the 13 minutes and 45 seconds epic 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', a musical retelling of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem of the same name. The visually striking, ancient Egyptian themed 'Powerslave' cover saw mascot Eddie morph into a giant stone Pharoah.
Iron Maiden's World Slavery Tour
Iron Maiden's Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain during the World Slavery Tour in 1985. Easily the band's biggest tour to date, Maiden played 189 shows to an estimated 3.5 million people over 331 days. The triumphant yet highly gruelling trek was immortalised with the seminal live album 'Live After Death' in October 1985, which was recorded at Long Beach Arena in California and London's Hammersmith Odeon.
Iron Maiden perform to 300,000 fans at Rock in Rio
Iron Maiden made their South American debut on 24th January 1985 during the World Slavery Tour appearing alongside Queen at Rock in Rio. Pictured are Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris in their imperious live glory in front of the 300,000-strong crowd. Suffering from fatigue and with tensions growing, Iron Maiden took a well-deserved four-month break following the conclusion of the World Slavery Tour in July 1985.
Iron Maiden - 'Somewhere In Time' (1986)
Iron Maiden's sixth record 'Somewhere In Time' came out on 19th September 1986 and reached no.3 on the UK album chart. Featuring no song contributions from Bruce Dickinson, instead Adrian Smith stepped to the fore with three songwriting credits – 'Sea of Madness', and the singles 'Wasted Years' and 'Stranger in a Strange Land.' The album saw Iron Maiden diversify their musical palette with the introduction of guitar synthesisers and although not strictly a concept record, the theme of time permeates through several of the tracks. 'Somewhere In Time' culminates with the historical epic 'Alexander The Great', which, although a firm fan favourite, has never been performed live by Iron Maiden. The visually potent artwork depicts a cyborg Eddie and there are dozens of references to the band's history and previous album/single sleeves across the front and back covers.
Iron Maiden in 1986
Iron Maiden looking resplendent in the California desert in 1986.
Iron Maiden's Somewhere on Tour tour
Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and Bruce Dickinson on stage at Madison Square Garden in New York in April 1987 on the Somewhere on Tour tour. The ambitious stage set featured a giant inflatable cyborg Eddie as the backdrop.
Iron Maiden - 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ (1988)
Widely regarded as one of Iron Maiden's greatest albums, critically lauded concept record 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' landed on 11th April 1988 and it powered to Number 1 in the UK becoming the band's first chart-topper since 'The Number of the Beast' six years earlier. Inspired by the novel Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card, the musically ambitious masterpiece saw the band meld progressive rock elements (complete with keyboards) with their trademark heavy metal sound. The artwork draws parallels with surrealists Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali and depicts a bodiless, floating Eddie holding his innards (which entomb a baby Eddie) while his head burns in direct contrast to the still and serene polar landscape. Rod Smallwood's brief was to create something "surreal and bloody weird" and Derek Riggs succeeded emphatically.
Iron Maiden headline Monsters of Rock
Iron Maiden's ensuing Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Tour featured over 100 shows throughout 1988, including, most notably, the band's inaugural headline appearance at Monsters of Rock in front of an estimated 107,000 people with KISS and Guns N' Roses also on the blockbuster bill. However, the event was marred by the tragic death of two fans during a crush during Guns N' Roses' set. Iron Maiden's two concerts at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre were immortalised in the VHS live video 'Maiden England' in 1989 and, later, the live album of the same name.
Bruce Dickinson releases solo album
With Iron Maiden taking some time out following the gruelling Seventh Son of a Seventh Son Tour, in 1989 Adrian Smith released the album 'Silver and Gold' with his short-lived solo venture A.S.a.P (Adrian Smith and Project). In August '89, Bruce Dickinson recorded the solo song 'Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter' with former Gillan guitarist Janick Gers for the 'A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child' soundtrack. Musical kindred spirits, the pair struck up a close friendship and they soon worked together on Dickinson's debut solo album 'Tattooed Millionaire', which saw the light of day in May 1990. Alongside nine original tracks, the album featured a cover of the David Bowie-penned Mott The Hoople track 'All The Young Dudes', which peaked at no.23 in the UK.
Janick Gers joins Iron Maiden after Adrian Smith quits
Following their break, Iron Maiden regrouped in 1990 to commence work on their eighth studio album. While the record was still in its embryonic stages, Adrian Smith quit Iron Maiden following a decade-long tenure due to differences in opinion with the direction the band were taking musically. Adrian was replaced by Janick Gers, who had recently worked with Bruce Dickinson on 'Tattooed Millionaire.' Hartlepool-born Janick was the first new Iron Maiden member in seven years and he's still with the band to this very day.
Iron Maiden - 'No Prayer for the Dying' (1990)
Released on 1st October 1990, Iron Maiden's eighth studio album 'No Prayer for the Dying' was more stripped back and raw musically than its two more experimental predecessors 'Somewhere in Time' and 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son'. It was recorded at Steve Harris' barn in Essex and utilising The Rolling Stones' Mobile Studio with long-time producer Martin Birch at the helm. The album featured Iron Maiden's version of Bruce Dickinson's solo track 'Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter', which stormed straight in at Number 1 in the UK (the band's only chart-topper to date) despite the track being shunned by mainstream radio stations. The 'No Prayer for the Dying' artwork was created by Derek Riggs and featured a more 'classic' version of Eddie the Head, emerging from a grave and clawing at an unfortunate undertaker's neck.
Iron Maiden - 'Fear of the Dark' (1992)
Following the year-long No Prayer on the Road Tour, Iron Maiden released their ninth studio album 'Fear of the Dark' on 11th May 1992, and it peaked at Number 1 in the UK. With Bruce Dickinson in particular unhappy with the sound of 'No Prayer for the Dying', Steve Harris' barn was converted into a 'proper' recording studio for 'Fear of the Dark'. The record was co-produced by Steve alongside Martin Birch who retired soon after its release. It proved to be not only Birch's final record with Maiden but his final ever before his death in 2020. Embracing weighty themes such as football hooliganism ('Weekend Warrior'), the AIDs pandemic ('Fear is the Key') and the Gulf War ('Afraid to Shoot Strangers'), 'Fear of the Dark' also featured the band's first power ballad, 'Wasting Love.' The album was the first Iron Maiden long-player not to feature artwork by Derek Riggs as the band opted for Melvyn Grant's eerie painting of a half-tree/half-demon Eddie instead.
Adrian Smith makes guest appearance at Monsters of Rock
Three months after the release of 'Fear of the Dark', Iron Maiden headlined Monsters of Rock for a second time with Skid Row, Thunder, Slayer, W.A.S.P. and The Almighty also on the line-up. The performance was immortalised with the November 1992 live album and VHS video 'Live at Donington' and the set culminated with former guitarist Adrian Smith guesting on 'Running Free.' He recollected years later: "Steve Harris rang me up and said, 'Why don't you come down and play Running Free' with us?' So I went down there and I didn't expect to feel the way I felt. The tour manager brought me up to the side of the stage and I watched a few songs. I got really, really emotional. I wasn't expecting it, but I was overwhelmed — the guys are playing the songs I used to play in front of thousands and thousands of people."
Bruce Dickinson leaves Iron Maiden
In early 1993, Bruce Dickinson announced his plans to leave Iron Maiden to focus on his solo career. However, with the band's Real Live Tour already booked, Bruce agreed to proceed with the shows as a farewell to fans. Unsurprisingly, the tour was blighted be inter-band tensions with Steve Harris in particular extremely unhappy with Bruce's inconsistent performances – claims that Bruce denied. Bruce himself later said of the tour: "It wasn't a good vibe. We walked out onstage, and it was like a morgue. The Maiden fans knew I'd quit, they knew these were the last gigs and I suddenly realised that, as the frontman, you're in an almost impossible situation." Pictured is Bruce Dickinson and Janick Gers at London's Wembley Arena on 17th May 1993. Three months later, Bruce Dickinson played his final shows with Iron Maiden (for now) at London's Pinewood Studios.
Blaze Bayley joins Iron Maiden
With Bruce Dickinson gone, in 1994 Iron Maiden pored over hundreds of demo tapes sent by vocalists aiming to become the band's new singer. However, with Steve Harris wowed by Blaze Bayley's vocal prowess when Wolfsbane supported Maiden on the No Prayer on the Road Tour, the band successfully convinced him to join their ranks. Blaze Bayley told Planet Rock in 2021: "They offered me the job. I'm so different to Bruce (Dickinson), I mean just so different in my presentation, my voice, everything. But I think they wanted to change, and they offered me the job. So I left Wolfsbane at that point and went on to the greatest job in the world for a heavy metal singer. It was fantastic, an incredible time." He added: "I don't know why they chose me, but they did, and the things that I learnt then - and already being a fan of Maiden - it stayed with me and that confidence that I'd got as a songwriter, that was unshakable."
Iron Maiden - 'The X factor' (1995)
Unfortunately for Blaze Bayley, his tenure with Iron Maiden didn't start well as he injured his leg in a motorcycle accident near his home delaying the band's tenth studio album. Eventually, 'The X Factor' finally saw the light of day on 2nd October 1995. Iron Maiden's first album since their eponymous 1980 debut without the now retired producer Martin Birch at the helm, sonically the band traversed darker musical realms including the Apocalypse Now inspired 'The Edge of Darkness'. Although 'The X Factor' was initially met with a more muted response than its predecessors, it's looked on much more favourably retrospectively and 11-minute epic 'Sign of the Cross' was added to the setlist for Maiden's The Legacy of the Beast Tour in 2018. The hard-hitting artwork was created by graphic artist Hugh Syme (noted for his work with Rush) and features a revival of the lobotomised Eddie.
Iron Maiden's The X Factour
Blaze Bayley's inaugural trek with Iron Maiden, The X Factour, ran for a year from September 1995 and opened with the band's debut shows in Israel and South Africa. It saw Maiden return to more intimate venues except for the closing South American and Mexican concerts that took place in stadia and arenas. Due to the rigours of touring, Blaze Bayley suffered vocal problems in North America resulting in the cancellation of eight show in spring 1996. Pictured are Blaze Bayley and Dave Murray at London's Brixton Academy on 10th November 1995.
Iron Maiden - 'Virtual XI' (1998)
After unleashing their first greatest hits compilation 'Best of the Beast' in 1996 and the accompanying standalone single 'Virus', Iron Maiden released their eleventh studio album 'Virtual XI' on 23rd March 1998. Widely regarded as a nadir in Iron Maiden's recording history, 'Virtual XI' was the band's biggest commercial flop to date charting at no.16 in the UK and - just like 'The X Factor' - it failed to dent the Billboard Top 100 Stateside. Yet, despite being savaged critically, there were some standout moments on the record including the fast and ferocious opener 'Futureal' and the bona fide Iron Maiden classic, 'The Clansman.' Melvyn Grant created the artwork of a demon like Eddie straight from the bowels of hell ominously reaching for a child wearing a virtual reality headset.
Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith return
Blaze Bayley's five-year tenure with Iron Maiden came to an end in January 1999 when he was fired by the band. Blaze noted 20 years later: "It was a shock to leave Iron Maiden - it was an absolute shock. But CD sales were gone; there was no interest in the band; things were going down; and they wanted a reunion (with Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith) — the record company wanted a reunion." Manager Rod Smallwood convinced Steve Harris to welcome Bruce Dickinson back into the band and the vocalist accepted during a meeting in Brighton in January 1999. The very same day Adrian Smith was also invited back by phone and Iron Maiden became a three-guitar, six-piece heavy metal behemoth. The line-up has remained constant to this very day.
Iron Maiden's The Ed Hunter Tour
The newly 12-legged Iron Maiden embarked on The Ed Hunter Tour in the summer of 1999 in support of their greatest hits album and video game 'Ed Hunter.' A relatively short trek compared to Maiden's usual tours, the band played 28 shows in North America and Europe. Dave Murray broke his finger in Los Angeles resulting in the cancellation of the band's gigs in San Jose, Paradise and Mesa.
Iron Maiden - 'Brave New World' (2000)
Iron Maiden's twelfth studio album 'Brave New World' was unleashed to Planet Earth on 29th May 2000. Lauded by critics and Iron Maiden fans alike, 'Brave New World' was named after the Aldous Huxley novel of the same name and it was recorded with esteemed producer Kevin 'The Caveman' Shirley at Studio Guillaume Tell in France. Musically, 'Brave New World' is a majestic heavy metal opus that has plenty of progressive flourishes and it ushered in the new Millennium perfectly for the band. Towering tunes including 'The Wicker Man' and 'Blood Brothers' (which Steve Harris penned for his late dad) are widely regarded as Maiden classics. For the artwork, Derek Riggs (returning to a Maiden cover for the first time in a decade) created the Eddie that appears as a menacing cloud of smoke above a Steve Stone illustration of a space-age London. It would be Riggs' last Iron Maiden album cover artwork to the present day.
Iron Maiden's Brave New World Tour
The Brave New World Tour took place from June 2000 to January 2001 and saw Iron Maiden perform 81 shows in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. Pictured is the fearsome wicker incarnation of Eddie at London's Earl Court Arena on the opening month of the tour.
Iron Maiden's Brave New World Tour
Iron Maiden's Steve Harris and Adrian Smith at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois on 17th October 2000 during their Brave New World Tour. Three months later, Iron Maiden performed in front of a massive crowd of 250,000 fans at Rock in Rio, which was released as a live album and video.
Iron Maiden raise money for Clive Burr
In March 2002, Iron Maiden performed a trio of sold-out benefit concerts at London's Brixton Academy raising money for former drummer Clive Burr, who had recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Iron Maiden played two further gigs for Burr's MS Trust Fund charity in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
Iron Maiden headline the first Download Festival
Iron Maiden headlined the opening night at the very first Download Festival at Donington Park – the home of Monsters of Rock – on Saturday 31st May 2003.
Iron Maiden - 'Dance of Death' (2003)
Two weeks after the conclusion of their Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead Tour, Iron Maiden released their thirteenth studio album 'Dance of Death' on 2nd September 2003. Peaking at no.2 in the UK, the acclaimed album was produced by Kevin Shirley and it contains two Iron Maiden firsts – 'Journeyman' is their first ever fully acoustic track, while 'New Frontier' is the first and only song in Iron Maiden's formidable back catalogue to have been co-written by Nicko McBrain. Once again 'Dance of Death' is packed with historical references - 'Montségur' is based on the fall of the Cathar stronghold in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade in 1244, while the Maiden epic 'Passchendaele' references The Battle of Passchendaele in which half-a-million soldiers died in World War I. Eddie the Head plays the role of the grim reaper on David Patchett's computer generated sleeve.
Iron Maiden in 2003
Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers in concert at London's Earls Court in December 2003.
Iron Maiden’s Eddie Rips Up the World Tour
Tied in with their 2004 DVD The History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days, Iron Maiden's Eddie Rips Up the World Tour in 2005 featured material from Iron Maiden's first four studio albums – 'Iron Maiden', 'Killers', 'The Number of the Beast' and 'Piece of Mind'. The first European leg culminated with a massive 60,000 capacity show at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden on 9th July 2005, before Maiden returned to headline Reading and Leeds Festival (pictured) at the end of the summer.
Iron Maiden inducted into Hollywood RockWalk
Iron Maiden were inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk outside the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles in August 2005. Alongside the band's handprints, Eddie the Head's skeletal claw was also immortalised in concrete.
Iron Maiden's Ozzfest show sabotaged
Sandwiched between the European dates, in the summer of 2005 Iron Maiden co-headlined the majority of the Ozzfest tour with Black Sabbath. Seemingly unhappy with comments Bruce Dickinson had made on stage about reality TV and certain artists using autocue, Sharon Osbourne allegedly sabotaged Iron Maiden's final performance at the Hyundai Pavilion in San Bernardino on 20th August 2005. During opener 'Murders in the Rue Morgue', Maiden were pelted with eggs, cups and bottle caps from a specific area of the pit and a man invaded the stage during 'The Trooper' clutching an American flag. Worse, the PA system cut out numerous times and "Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy" chants were played through the speaker system. At the end of the set, Sharon Osbourne addressed the audience calling Iron Maiden "wonderful" but Bruce Dickinson a "prick." Rod Smallwood praised Iron Maiden afterwards for completing their set, saying "The imperturbable attitude and ability of the band shone through and in the end made this a truly remarkable rock and roll event, even if for all the wrong reasons. I do think the band deserve an apology from a number of people, and you know who you are."
Iron Maiden 'A Matter of Life and Death' (2006)
Iron Maiden's 14th studio album 'A Matter of Life and Death' came out 25th August 2006 and it embraced themes of war and religion throughout, including on the artwork which was created by Tim Bradstreet and depicts Eddie as an army general driving a tank through a desolate, war-torn landscape with his skeletal comrades. Continuing their rich vein of form since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith returned to their ranks, 'A Matter of Life and Death' was praised by critics and it was their first album to dent the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 debuting at no.9 Stateside. Years later, Nicko McBrain has hailed 'A Matter of Life and Death' as the best record he has recorded with Iron Maiden.
Iron Maiden perform A Matter of Life and Death in full on tour
Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death World Tour in 2006 saw the band perform 'A Matter of Life and Death' in its unadulterated entirety before culminating the set with 'Fear of the Dark', 'Iron Maiden', '2 Minutes to Midnight', 'The Evil That Men Do' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'. It was their first tour since 1982 not to feature 'The Number of the Beast' in the set. This was rectified in 2007 on the A Matter of the Beast Tour, which featured five songs from their latest records and four songs from 'The Number of the Beast' alongside other Maiden classics. Pictured is Steve Harris throwing his iconic pose in Toronto in October 2006.
Iron Maiden headline Download again
Pictured is Iron Maiden in Sofia, Bulgaria in June 2007 ahead of their appearance at the Lokomotiv Stadium. A week later they headlined Download Festival for the second time, which was their fourth bill-topping spot at Donington Park including Monsters of Rock. They concluded the A Matter of the Beast Tour at London's Brixton Academy on 24th June 2007 with proceeds going to Clive Burr's MS Trust Fund charity.
Iron Maiden's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour
Iron Maiden kicked off the Somewhere Back in Time World Tour in February 2008 and it took in 90 shows over 14 months in front of 2 million people. The setlist predominately celebrated the band's 1980s material including from 'Powerslave', 'Somewhere In Time' and 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' with rarities including 'Moonchild' and 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' getting an outing. Loosely based on the World Slavery Tour from 24 years earlier, the ambitious stage production boasted eyebrow-singeing pyrotechnics and the welcome return of the giant mummified Eddie, together with the cyborg walk-on Eddie from 1986. Pictured is Steve Harris at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne at the start of the tour.
Iron Maiden's Flight 666
The Somewhere Back in Time World Tour was a landmark trek for Iron Maiden as it was the first tour they commissioned an aeroplane – an Astraeus Airlines Boeing 757 to be exact - as transport. Dubbed Ed Force One after a naming competition on Iron Maiden's website, the plane was flown by Bruce Dickinson, who was also a commercial airline pilot for Astraeus, and it carried the band, their crew and all the stage production for the tour. Ed Force One featured in the April 2009 documentary film Iron Maiden: Flight 666.
Iron Maiden - 'The Final Frontier' (2010)
Iron Maiden's 15th studio album 'The Final Frontier' was unleashed on 13th August 2010. Widely praised in the music press, the album reached Number 1 in 28 countries around the globe including the UK where it was Iron Maiden's first chart-topper in 18 years. Musically it was densely layered and epic in scope and the album's 10 songs clocked in at 76 minutes and 36 seconds. The Final Frontier' is also notable as it was only the fourth Iron Maiden album that features songwriting credits from Steve Harris on every single track. Melvyn Grant concocted the alien-like Eddie the Head on the sleeve, and it proved to be highly divisive among fans. Steve Harris described this Eddie as "possibly the most outrageous one to date" and he wasn't wrong.
Iron Maiden's second Ed Force One and Grammys win
Iron Maiden's The Final Frontier Tour took place from June 2010 to August 2011 and took in almost 100 shows. The 'Around The World in 66 Days' leg between 11th February and 17th April 2011 saw Iron Maiden use a new Boeing 757 Ed Force One to fly between 27 shows in 25 cities in 12 countries across five continents. Their triumphant concert at Estadio Nacional de Chile on this leg was later immortalised with the 2012 live album and video 'En Vivo!'. February 2011 also saw Iron Maiden scoop their first ever Grammy Award - Best Metal Performance for 'El Dorado.'
Iron Maiden's Maiden England World Tour
Named after the 1989 concert video Maiden England, which was filmed in Birmingham in 1988 and later re-released on DVD, Iron Maiden embarked on the 100-date Maiden England World Tour from June 2012 to July 2014. Just like the 2005's Eddie Rips Up the World Tour and 2008–2009's Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, it was Iron Maiden's third tour inspired by a period of their history and the setlist largely echoed the original Birmingham show a quarter-of-a-century earlier. Firmly entrenched into Iron Maiden folklore, the band's headline performance at Download Festival in June 2013 saw them enter the stage as a Spitfire flew over the crowd in perfect tandem.
Clive Burr dies aged 56
On 13th March 2013, former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr died four days after 56th birthday due to complications from multiple sclerosis. Steve Harris said at the time: "This is terribly sad news. Clive was a very old friend of all of us. He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out. This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him and our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and family at this time."
Iron Maiden launch Trooper Beer
In spring 2013, Bruce Dickinson joined forces with Robinson's Brewery in Stockport to launch Iron Maiden's Trooper beer. On its eighth birthday in 2021, it was announced that Trooper had reached the huge milestone of 30 million pints sold around the globe. Alongside the original Trooper beer, there have been a number of spin-off brews including Trooper Fear of the Dark, Trooper IPA, Sun and Steel (sake infused pilsner), Red 'N' Black (porter), 666 (extra strong bitter), and Belgian styled beer, Hallowed, along with the annual "Day of the Dead" Trooper special edition.
Bruce Dickinson beats cancer
Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with cancer shortly before Christmas 2014 when doctors discovered a small cancerous tumour was found at the back of his tongue during a routine check-up. In May 2015, Iron Maiden said in a statement: "We are very happy to announce that following his recent MRI scan, Bruce was today officially given the all-clear by his specialists." Bruce himself said: "I'm a firm believer in trying to maintain a positive attitude, and the encouragement from the global Maiden family meant a great deal to me. Right now, I'm feeling extremely motivated and can't wait to get back to business as usual, as soon as I can!"
Iron Maiden - 'The Book of Souls' (2015)
Iron Maiden's sixteenth studio album 'The Book of Souls' was released on 4th September 2015. The 92-minute musical opus was widely praised by critics, and it stormed straight in at Number 1 in the UK – their fifth chart-topping album on these shores. Recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios in Paris with producer Kevin Shirley, Iron Maiden gave the album a "live feel" by embracing spontaneity during the recording process - they entered the studio with only "outlines" of ideas before rehearsing them and laying them down in one go. Clocking it at a massive 18 minutes, epic Bruce Dickinson penned closing track 'Empire of the Clouds' is the longest song in Iron Maiden's four decade recording history. On 'The Book of Souls' album cover, Eddie the Head got a fearsome Mayan makeover by artist Mark Wilkinson.
Iron Maiden's The Book of Souls World Tour
Taking in 117 shows across 35 countries and five continents, Iron Maiden's The Book of Souls World Tour in 2016 and 2017 was the band's longest trek since The X Factour in the mid-90s. In true Iron Maiden style, the Mayan themed stage production was truly mind-blowing and it featured a 10-metre high inflatable bust of Eddie from Mark Wilkinson's album cover image, and an inflatable Devil Goat. The tour spawned the 2017 live album 'The Book of Souls: Live Chapter' featuring tracks recorded at various stops on the tour, including Maiden's 2016 headline set at an extremely soggy Download Festival.
Iron Maiden's third Ed Force One
Once again piloted by Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden used a third Ed Force One plane to fly between shows on The Book of Souls World Tour. Featuring the Mayan Eddie from 'The Book of Souls' artwork, Iron Maiden upgraded to an ex-Air France Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet, supplied by Air Atlanta Icelandic.
Iron Maiden's Legacy of the Beast World Tour
Inspired by their summer 2016 mobile game Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast and comic book of the same name, Iron Maiden commenced The Legacy of the Beast World Tour in 2018 and, due to Covid-19, it concluded in Europe in summer 2022. In keeping with the game, the stage set design features a number of different but interlocking 'worlds' and a gargantuan replica Spitfire plane during opener 'Aces High'. Musically the opening legs of the tour featured a slew a rarities including 'Flight of Icarus', the Blaze Bayley-era tracks 'The Clansman' and 'Sign of the Cross', plus 'For the Greater Good of God' and 'Where Eagles Dare'. The tour has been immortalised with the 2020 live album 'Nights of the Dead, Legacy of the Beast: Live in Mexico City.'
Iron Maiden tease 17th studio album
In June and July 2021, a series of cryptic clues were unveiled pointing towards Iron Maiden's first studio album. In a Sky News interview, Bruce Dickinson wore a Belshazzar's Feast T-shirt – the same image as a poster that appeared at Download Pilot festival in June. Fans. Belshazzar's Feast is the story of the writing on the wall in the bible and fans noticed that a Legacy of the Beast Tour poster had WOTW – writing on the wall – emblazoned on a wall. A series of other cryptic clues have followed including on a poster promoting Nicko McBrain's Rock N Roll Ribs restaurant, a Twitter user called Daniel (@bels_feast) following 16 accounts linked to Iron Maiden's first 16 studio albums, a poster at Robinson's Brewery where Trooper is made and much more.
Iron Maiden unleash 'The Writing On The Wall'
After weeks of Belshazzar's Feast and WOTW cryptic teases, Iron Maiden unleashed their first song in six years, 'The Writing on the Wall', on Thursday 15th July 2021. The seven-minute epic was accompanied by an incredible and thematically potent animated music video featuring a samurai incarnation of Eddie the Head. A sensational return to the fray for both Iron Maiden and Eddie.
Iron Maiden release 'Senjutsu'
Iron Maiden released their 17th studio album 'Senjutsu' on Friday 3rd September 2021 through Parlophone Records. 'Senjutsu' is a double album and it contains 10 songs that clock in at just under 82 minutes. 'Senjutsu' was recorded at Paris' Guillaume Tell Studio will longterm producer Kevin 'The Caveman' Shirley, and Iron Maiden founder and sole constant member Steve Harris on co-production. The album title 'Senjutsu' loosely translates to "tactics & strategy" and the Mark Wilkinson artwork depicts the samurai Eddie from 'The Writing On The Wall' video clutching a bloodied sword.
Three years after its release, the album was certified Gold.
Bruce Dickinson quashes Maiden retirement rumours
Speaking in March 2022, Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson insists the band have no plans to retire. With all six band members in their 60s and drummer Nicko McBrain turning the big 7-0 in June 2022, Dickinson replied "I think we'll probably drop dead onstage." This was as the band geared up to resume their covid-delayed Legacy of the Beast Tour which had been postponed two years.
Iron Maiden return to touring after two-year break
Over two and a half years after their last pre-covid show in Santiago's Estadio Nacional in Chile, Iron Maiden resumed their Legacy of the Beast World Tour in Croatia on 22nd May 2022. Reflecting the fact that they'd released Senjutsu in the intervening years, the tour saw a change in both setlist and stage production, with an all-new Japanese temple themed set. In June 2022, they headlined Download Festival for a seventh time with a career-spanning set that was widely praised. The tour sees them taking in North America, stopping in both the USA and Canada before the end of 2022. They've been confirmed as headliners for Wacken Open Air in August 2023, with further 2023 tour dates surely in the pipeline.
Iron Maiden announce The Future Past Tour
In October 2022, Iron Maiden announced they were bringing a brand-new live show, The Future Past Tour, to arenas in the UK, Ireland and Europe in summer 2023. The Future Past Tour will feature previously unperformed songs from the band's 2021 album 'Senjutsu', rarely performed material from their seminal 1986 album 'Somewhere in Time', and classic tracks.
Iron Maiden honoured with Royal Mail stamps
In January 2023, Iron Maiden became only the fifth British band to feature in a dedicated Royal Mail stamp set following in the footsteps of The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, and The Rolling Stones in 2022. The 12 set of stamps capture Iron Maiden in their live glory and also celebrate their beloved mascot Eddie. Steve Harris said: "We were all absolutely astounded – in a good way! When we heard first about the commemorative project, and equally pretty much speechless when we saw the stamps for the very first time. They look superb and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden. We're all very proud that Royal Mail has chosen to honour the band's legacy like this, and we know our fans will feel the same way."
Nicko McBrain suffers stroke
On 3rd August 2023, Nicko McBrain revealed to the world that he had suffered a stroke in January 2023. The 71-year-old recorded a typically cheery video message, explaining to fans that "The good-looking one" was now, 7 months later, feeling 100%. In a longer statement, Nicko explained that he had suffered from a minor stroke known as a TIA, which had paralysed his right side. Manager Rod Smallwood reassured fans that the band were looking forward to "many more tours together".
Bruce Dickinson releases his first solo album in 19 years
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson released his first solo album in 19 years, 'The Mandrake Project', on 1st March 2024. Produced by Bruce's long-term collaborator Roy Z, the album featured the singles 'Afterglow of Ragnarok', 'Rain on the Graves' and 'Resurrection Men' and it was charted at Number 3 in the UK. Bruce supported the album's release with The Mandrake Project World Tour, which included his first UK solo shows in 26 years.
Iron Maiden announce 50th anniversary tour
In September 2024, Iron Maiden announced a very special 50th anniversary tour taking place in summer 2025. Marking 50 years since bassist Steve Harris formed Iron Maiden, the Run For Your Lives Tour kicks off at Budapest Arena on Tuesday 27th May, and takes in 27 further stadium, festival & arena shows across Europe. The tour includes five shows in the UK and Ireland in June 2025 at Birmingham Utilita Arena, Manchester Co-Op Live, Glasgow OVO Hydro, Dublin Malahide Castle, and London Stadium – home of Steve Harris' beloved West Ham United. In keeping with the 50th anniversary celebrations, the setlist will see Iron Maiden play songs from their seminal first nine studio albums – from 1980's 'Iron Maiden' to 1992's 'Fear of the Dark.'
Paul Di'Anno dies aged 66
Former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di'Anno sadly died aged 66 on 20th October 2024. A statement from his record label read: "On behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di'Anno. Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66. Born in Chingford, East London on 17th May 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album 'Iron Maiden,' and the influential follow up release, 'Killers.'" The statement continued: "Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023. His first career retrospective album, The Book of the Beast was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden."