THE BEAST

This past Monday, April 21, legendary IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson sat down in Hollywood, California for the Musicians Institute's MI Conversation Series, hosted by Ryan J. Downey. During the talk, Dickinson dropped some massive revelations about MAIDEN’s upcoming “Run For Your Lives” world tour, set to launch May 27 in Budapest, Hungary—and most notably, what fans can expect from new drummer Simon Dawson.

Simon Dawson, best known for playing in Steve Harris' BRITISH LION, is officially stepping in for long-time MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain, who announced his retirement from live performances in late 2024 following his final show in São Paulo, Brazil. While some fans may have raised eyebrows over the change, Dickinson made it crystal clear: Dawson is more than ready.

“We’ve already had a rehearsal with Simon on the last MAIDEN tour,” Bruce revealed. “He was tagging along with BRITISH LION as Steve was doing shows with both bands. It was kind of insurance for us… We were hoping Nick was gonna make the tour, but there were moments when we were really worried. We didn’t want Nick in the hospital, and we needed a backup.”

That’s when Harris suggested Dawson, and despite the band’s initial uncertainty, the results were jaw-dropping.

“Honestly, I was pleasantly shocked,” Bruce admitted. “We went through the whole set without a break, and Simon hadn’t rehearsed with anyone. He just showed up and nailed it. I thought, ‘My God, we could do a show tonight if we had to.’ That’s unreal.”

According to Dickinson, Dawson brought something MAIDEN hadn’t felt in years.

“If I closed my eyes at moments during that rehearsal, it was like having Clive Burr back in the band,” Bruce said, referencing MAIDEN’s original drummer. “He’s got that swing, that feel—just incredible. I’m actually really excited.”

Dickinson also addressed why Dawson was chosen over other big-name drummers who were considered.

“They were great drummers, but they wanted to sound like Nicko. And you can’t replace Nicko. You shouldn’t even try. Simon plays the material in his own way, and it just works.”

With rehearsals for the new tour beginning in just days, Bruce teased fans with some cryptic excitement:

“The show that we’ve designed is unlike any other MAIDEN show we’ve ever done. The first 25–30 minutes… it’s gonna blow people’s minds. They’re gonna be like, ‘I can’t believe they’re playing that, that, that!’”

And fans are clearly ready: over one million tickets have already been sold for the European leg alone. As Bruce confirmed, the “Run For Your Lives” tour will also hit the USA in 2026.

This tour marks a pivotal moment for MAIDEN as they celebrate their 50th anniversary with what they're calling a “greatest hits” style setlist, featuring deep cuts and fan favorites from their first nine albums—many of which haven’t been played live in decades.

While McBrain may have stepped off the stage, he remains deeply involved with the band in other projects and business ventures. The legacy of Nicko—who joined the band in 1982 after Clive Burr and became one of its most technically skilled members—remains intact, and MAIDEN’s commitment to honoring the past while embracing the future is stronger than ever.

“MAIDEN has always been greater than the sum of its parts,” Bruce concluded. “We’ve never needed the mainstream to succeed. And now, with Simon joining us, we’re entering a whole new chapter.”

The countdown to MAIDEN’s return begins. Up the Irons!