Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain thought he’d retire after stroke
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has opened up about the stroke he suffered earlier this year, stating that it caused him to fear for his career.
In January, McBrain suffered a minor stroke called a transient ischaemic attack. On his right side, he was left paralysed from the shoulder down. The drummer shared the news on social media in August, noting that he was able to start tour rehearsals after ten weeks of intense therapy.
Now, McBrain has spoken about the effects of the stroke during a conversation with Metal Hammer, recalling, “When it first happened I thought, ‘This is it, I’m not going to be able to play. I’ve got a tour coming up in three months’ time.'”
“I had a lot of time for reflection in the hospital,” he continued, “My wife was really my bastion of strength and encouragement, and she was with me throughout.” Between support from his wife, strength exercises and stretches, McBrain was able to make a recovery.
He also noted the support of his Iron Maiden bandmates, adding, “Through all this period of time I was in touch with Steve, obviously all the guys, and I’d have a bit of a chat with them on the phone and they were all very, very encouraging, and none more so than Steve. He said, ‘Look, the most important thing is that you get well and work on getting yourself together.'”
Following the intense therapy, McBrain was able to join the band for the European leg of their Future Past World Tour, which ran throughout the summer.
In 2024, Iron Maiden will embark upon a set of shows in North America as part of the same tour. The band are also set to take to stages across South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
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