Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has played his final show with the band, announcing his retirement from touring just before their show in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday night (7 December).
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has played his final show with the band, announcing his retirement from touring just before their show in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday night (7 December).
The band made the announcement on their Instagram page, which contained seperate statements from McBrain and Iron Maiden’s manager Rod Smallwood on behalf of the rest of the group.
McBrain said he will “remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family” but has decided to “take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle”.
“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, Saturday, December 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with Iron Maiden. I wish the band much success moving forward,” he said.
“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.
“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 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!’
McBrain joined Iron Maiden in 1982 when he replaced Clive Burr, and has drummed on every album since 1983’s ‘Piece of Mind’.
Smallwood said: “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.”
Smallwood added in his statement that Iron Maiden have already picked McBrain’s replacement behind the kit and they would be announced shortly. “MAIDEN always get their man and our already chosen new drummer will be announced very shortly,” he stated.
The setlist from Iron Maiden’s final show with Nicko McBrain in Sao Paulo on 7th December was:
Caught Somewhere in Time
Stranger in a Strange Land
The Writing on the Wall
Days of Future Past
The Time Machine
The Prisoner
Death of the Celts
Can I Play With Madness
Heaven Can Wait
Alexander the Great
Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden
Encore:
Hell on Earth
The Trooper
Wasted Years
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