Nicko McBrain Looks Back on His Final Show With Iron Maiden, Recalls the ‘Most Important’ Moment: ‘Maybe Stay Strong. Do Your Weeping Offstage’

Nicko McBrain Looks Back on His Final Show With Iron Maiden, Recalls the ‘Most Important’ Moment: ‘Maybe Stay Strong. Do Your Weeping Offstage’

 

Nicko McBrain, the legendary drummer of Iron Maiden, recently looked back on his final ever live performance with the band — a milestone that was both triumphant and deeply emotional. The show took place on December 7, 2024, at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, and marked the end of his 42-year touring career with the band.

In a heartfelt interview with Drum Talk TV, McBrain described the concert as a “very mixed-emotions show.” On one hand, he was buoyed by the roar of tens of thousands of Maiden fans chanting his name. On the other, he felt overwhelmed, sensing that he might “burst out in tears” as the night came to a close. Despite that, McBrain held himself together. “Maybe stay strong. Do your weeping offstage,” he told himself, drawing on a kind of internal resolve.

Yet, beyond the adoration from the crowd, McBrain revealed that the most important moment for him came from backstage. As he went to take the stage again late in the night to say his final goodbyes, the backline — the long-time road crew and supporting team — gave him a salute and a heartfelt farewell. He recognized that it wasn’t only the fans saying goodbye to him, but also those who’d stood behind the scenes for years. For him, that gesture carried profound weight: it was a respectful, personal acknowledgment from people who truly knew what those years had meant. “That was their last time … with me performing,” he said, and it brought real tears to his eyes.

McBrain admitted that some of his longtime friends from the tour couldn’t hold back their emotion either: “Some of my truly dear friends on the tour for many years had a tear in their eye.” He felt their love, loyalty, and the bittersweet finality of the moment more deeply than any fan’s applause.

Looking back, McBrain was philosophical about his decision to retire from touring. He said he had been “in the mental space” of stepping away for some time, especially after Iron Maiden recorded their Senjutsu album in 2019. His health played a significant role: in January 2023, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed on his right side. The band stood by him throughout his recovery, adapting to his needs — but McBrain knew he could no longer play as he once did.

Even though he has stepped away from the road, McBrain stresses he isn’t leaving the Maiden family. He plans to continue contributing through studio work and other projects. Reflecting on the final show, McBrain expressed immense gratitude to the fans, his bandmates, and the crew — calling the night “unbelievably special.” In his own words: “I love you all … Up the Irons!”