Recommendations of the Editorial team
Simon Dawson has been sitting on drums for Iron Maiden since the end of last year. Frontmann Bruce Dickinson now informed who the new one is reminiscent of him.
Simon Dawson brings swing feeling
In conversation with the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Dickinson compares his fellow musician with Clive Burr. From 1979 to 1982 he was part of Iron Maiden, so it can be heard on the first three albums. Before that, he was part of the band Samson with Dickinson. “When I am honest, when I closed my eyes during the first rehearsal with Simon, I had the feeling that Clive was back in the band,” said Bruce Dickinson. “It is this big band swing feeling. He has the same influences.” Accordingly, he is looking forward to standing on stage with Simon Dawson.
Bruce Dickinson: “You can’t replace Nicko”
In December 2024, Nicko McBrain announced his retreat from the live business with Iron Maiden after over 40 years. The 72-year-old musician remains part of the British metal giants, but he had to be replaced on stage. The band chose Simon Dawson. Otherwise, this will play at British Lion, the side project by Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris. “You can’t replace Nicko – you shouldn’t even try it,” commented Bruce Dickinson change and farewell. “We didn’t want a nicko clone, but a drummer who plays the material in his own style.”
Iron Maiden were worried
Bruce Dickinson also discussed how and when exactly Simon Dawson came across the band. Apparently he is said to have already played during the last Iron Maiden tour 2023. Steve Harris was on the road with British Lion at the same time, so Dawson got into conversation. “It was an insurance because of our ambiguity,” said Dickinson. At the time, Iron Maiden was not sure whether Nicko McBrain would be physically able to play the concerts. “It was less his game than his general condition,” the front man described. “We were worried. We didn’t want Nick to end up in the hospital, we needed a backup.”
The drummer suffered a stroke in 2023 that paralyzed parts of his body. He recovered, but live appearances remained exhausting for him, so he ultimately decided not to go on tour with Iron Maiden. He played his last show in Sao Paolo in Brazilian on December 7, 2024.
Iron Maiden will be on tour again this year. In July they play six concerts in Germany: Gelsenkirchen, Bremen, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and twice in Berlin. The headers are the Swedes Avatar.