If Iron Maiden had to replace Nicko..

Not many of those artists had longevity though. It's one thing to fold after 10 years or so because you've ran out of ideas (Gentle Giant), another to be going strong for 30-40 years and decide to quit while you're ahead. A lot of those bands didn't have the most graceful endings.
 
Pink floyd would be a good example. Yes they had all the gilmour/waters controversy but the tours for momentary lapse of reason and the division bell were huge. They were still massively popular and those albums sans waters were received very well. Plus their style of music wasn't as physically demanding as maidens so they could have still been around now and arguably still been just as big.

They just kinda finished up with no farewell tour and no actual announcement that they were done.
 
Thinking about what Mosh said made me realise that there are really not that many bands that'd be together for 30-40 years and I'd consider them as "still going strong". And no, Pink Floyd are not a good example. Their last great album came out in 1979, 12 years after the debut (though Your Possible Pasts is quite good, but it's just one song) and the Gilfloyd albums - though I personally like them - are lifeless rehashes of things they done much better in the past, done without the only bloke who had any kind of vision (and who was himself pretty spent when he was leaving). I love my Pulse DVD dearly, but they kinda are a walking zombie there. Popular they were and are, but so are Kiss.

Though Publius Enigma was funny.
 
Disagree enormously. Gilmore led Floyd ruled. And very different music from seventies Floyd.

Kiss has become cabaret. Floyd not in their later years. Lots of new songs, in album tours at least.
With quality music, e.g. Sorrow.
 
I like the way Floyd ended. It was a rough start after Roger left but they had a great album and tour for The Division Bell and disappeared quietly with everyone having fond memories of the band. Then they did the one off reunion and, when the time was right, a final album for a farewell. My only complaint is that they should've included Roger in some way, but other than that I thought it punctuated their career nicely.
 
I like the way Floyd ended. It was a rough start after Roger left but they had a great album and tour for The Division Bell and disappeared quietly with everyone having fond memories of the band. Then they did the one off reunion and, when the time was right, a final album for a farewell. My only complaint is that they should've included Roger in some way, but other than that I thought it punctuated their career nicely.

If Waters left after The Wall, the hate would be kept to minimum and they then did Division Bell in 1982 or so and then it'd went on as you have written, I'd agree with you.
 
Well I don't think anything they did in between The Wall and Division Bell soiled their reputation as a band. Everyone has their less successful periods. The point is that they got it together and gave the band a proper send off. Definitely no argument that they didn't end on their own terms at least.
 
I'm joining this discussion very late, sorry, but I wouldn't mind Maiden replacing Nicko if this means the band continuing for a few years (and I think the same of all the guys but two). Pornoy would be a terrible mistake, given his personnality, that would clash with Steve's, and even worse with Bruce's. Brann his great, but I'd rather see him again with Mastodon, that would fall apart without him. I would love to hear a really agressive metal drummer, someone who would come up with some Clive-style drumming. Nicko sometimes lacks agressivity, and I would love to get that.
 
Thinking about what Mosh said made me realise that there are really not that many bands that'd be together for 30-40 years and I'd consider them as "still going strong". And no, Pink Floyd are not a good example. Their last great album came out in 1979, 12 years after the debut (though Your Possible Pasts is quite good, but it's just one song) and the Gilfloyd albums - though I personally like them - are lifeless rehashes of things they done much better in the past, done without the only bloke who had any kind of vision (and who was himself pretty spent when he was leaving). I love my Pulse DVD dearly, but they kinda are a walking zombie there. Popular they were and are, but so are Kiss.

Though Publius Enigma was funny.


Your opinion which differs considerably from mine. I love the last two floyd albums as do so many people. Just look at the sales figures and chart positions from around the world plus the tours for both albums were huge events. My point in bringing up pink floyd was as an example of a band who had a 30-40 year career and went out in there own terms still as big and as popular as they ever were. They never did endless farewell tours just playing the hits they just kinda drifted away after the division bell tour as they wanted.

Maiden will be the same I reckon. After what they consider their last tour they won't announce it as a farewell tour so they can keep the door open for the odd festival headlining gig or one off show some further down the line. This is how I see Nicko being replaced. When they do do the final proper tour the band will just stop touring and then over the years they will do odd shows here and there and if Nicko isn't up to that then it's easier to get a hired hand to play a couple of shows rather than get a new proper member and keep touring.
 
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Hmm, I don't see them doing some couple of shows afterwards. They'll probably go out with a big bang. Unlike any other band. Other bands ended too early, or too late.

Rush did not end well. They disagreed on how to continue. Two out of three wanted to continue, in whatever form. Peart just backed out himself: end of band.

Floyd took a lot of time in between albums and played for every album apart from the last. But Maiden plays more demanding music (for old people at least).
IMO: They do not have the music, time and strength to end like any other band. They do have have integrity so I think the end will be a real end.

Also: no more shows, no more music.
I wish they would still do studio albums but I am afraid the band is not like that. They can't make music without touring. I think it would feel wrong for them. The motivation would be gone for studio work only. It's all or nothing.
 
I just can't see someone like Steve wanting to announce a farewell tour and be part of anything considered even slightly gimmicky. Don't get me wrong they'll be pressure from Rod and the record label to do a farewell tour as it would be absolutely huge. If people thought they had one more chance to see Maiden before it's over for good the demand for tickets would be mental.

I just think Steve loves playing so much that even despite having British lion to keep him busy in his twilight years after a few years of no maiden I bet the itch to get out and play a big show would be too much. If they announced a farewell tour that would close the door for good as the band has to much integrity to go back on that a few years after.

The rest of the band are young enough that they could go on for at least 5 years or more after Nicko decides he can't handle it any more.
 
after Nicko decides he can't handle it any more.
I still wonder when that ever will be? I mean, he plays pretty good! Certainly good enough to continue. Seriously, I felt he played some songs to slow on the Maiden England tour (Prisoner and Wasted Years) and yes: he plays the material a bit simpler than in the old days, with less dexterity and power perhaps, but what he does now is good enough. As if he even plays better than in 2012 for example. I don't see the end. Not at all.

If Maiden does not make their tours too long, the band can go on for years. I hope I am of the same opinion after the current American leg ends, but at the moment, all looks well, even with his current wrist injury.

@Lego what do you think about this? Nicko keeps bringing the topic up, but seriously, how far are we?
 
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I still wonder when that ever will be? I mean, he plays pretty good! Certainly good enough to continue. Seriously, I felt he played some songs to slow on the Maiden England tour (Prisoner and Wasted Years) and yes: he plays the material a bit simpler than in the old says, with less dexterity and power perhaps, but what he does now is good enough. As if he even plays better than in 2012 for example. I don't see the end. Not at all.

If Maiden does not make their tours too long, the band can go on for years. I hope I am of the same opinion after the current American leg ends, but at the moment, all looks well, even with his current wrist injury.

@Lego what do you think about this? Nicko keeps bringing the topic up, but seriously, how far are we?

I'd say that Nicko is only preparing us, because he knows that at 65, his health can plummit every day. If he doesn't have any issues, I can see him playin for at least 5 more years (until 70).
 
Nicko has mentioned arthritis, that's what stopped Peart and it will stop Nicko no matter how well he's playing today. I think the last tour will happen in 2020. 40th anniversary of the first album.
 
Arguably Jethro Tull, Porcupine Tree and Tom Waits - hard to say there.

Tom Waits is still around. Don't you scare me like that!

Rush did not end well. They disagreed on how to continue. Two out of three wanted to continue, in whatever form. Peart just backed out himself: end of band.

The only one who really disagreed was Geddy, who wanted to keep the recording and touring cycle going. Neil wanted a full-stop and Alex was trying to be positive, but also said that his arthritis has gotten too bad to keep up anymore.
 
Tom Waits is still around. Don't you scare me like that!



The only one who really disagreed was Geddy, who wanted to keep the recording and touring cycle going. Neil wanted a full-stop and Alex was trying to be positive, but also said that his arthritis has gotten too bad to keep up anymore.
On the last Rush tour Alex needed about 15 shows to begin playing like he used to. Also he had a major operation 6 months before. That was the biggest reason why Neil decided to even do it. If Al hadn't pursued him, there would have been no tour...
 
The only one who really disagreed was Geddy, who wanted to keep the recording and touring cycle going. Neil wanted a full-stop and Alex was trying to be positive, but also said that his arthritis has gotten too bad to keep up anymore.
This gets overlooked. There's more to becoming a parody/cabaret act than just playing greatest hits setlists. It's also when a band continues to perform way past their prime at a continuing decline in abilities. Rush weren't at this point but it was coming. Alex was clearly struggling at some shows and Geddy's voice was starting to get unbearable. They stopped after a great tour before anyone could ask why they were still doing it. Better to leave the fans wanting more.
 
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