Simon Dawson will replace Nicko McBrain who retired from touring after 42 years
Iron Maiden has announced that British drummer Simon Dawson will helm the drum kit when the band returns to the road for its 50th anniversary Run for Your Lives World Tour in 2025. The band shared the news on Sunday (Dec 8th), one day after it concluded its 2024 The Future Past Tour which saw Nicko McBrain perform his last show with the band.
“As The Future Past Tour concludes after 81 shows to over 1.4 million fans, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to Sao Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the kit for 2025 is a name familiar to many of our fans – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve’s rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion,” the band’s statement reads.
“A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the first British Lion album and all of the second critically acclaimed ‘The Burning’, plus the many subsequent tours in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and, most recently, both Mexico and South America.”
McBrain announced his touring retirement after 42 years ahead of yesterday’s show in Sao Paulo, although he’ll remain part of the band’s family with several projects in the works.
“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,” McBrain shares.
“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!”
The two-year 2025 Run for our Lives World Tour trek kicks off on May 27th in Budapest followed by 27 stadium, festival, and arena shows around Europe. The tour includes five shows in the UK and Ireland, with arenas in Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow, and outdoor shows in Dublin and London, celebrating its milestone anniversary with one of the most notable concerts in the band’s history.
