Simon Dawson is the new drummer

At this point in their career, Iron Maiden has earned the right to do whatever they believe is right for them as individuals and for the band itself.

We are very, very fortunate to have them still performing with a massive road show at a very high level of musicianship and organizational professionalism. They stand alone at the top of the mountain. None of their peers, with the exception of Rush, can boast of a career as long with the same core members continually weathering all of the changes in the industry. Styles, tastes, business practices, audiences have all shifted and changed and they still are out there smashing arenas and stadiums on their own terms. It is a helluva success story and we are lucky to bear witness to it.

Selfishly, I preferred Lazarus to assume the drum throne but from a business as well as musician POV I get the decision. Maiden has always operated as a close-knit family. Dawson has played with Steve for twelve years in British Lion and he's going to be "the new guy!" Same as Nicko was, same as Janick; the band and management know him, have observed him, played/jammed with him. Getting on personally with a bandmate at this stage of their lives is more important than choosing someone with the greatest chops. And I am completely unfamiliar with Simon as a musician; for all I know, he may be as talented as anyone out there. But we knew that the new drummer would be British, familiar with the band - especially Steve, more likely to be mature and not young, experienced and not an outsider or a big name. It all lines up.

Look; Nicko is a FANTASTIC drummer. Plays many unorthodox patterns and fills compared to most heavy metal drummers. Has a groove to his playing along with the classic galloping rhythm that is a hallmark of Maiden's classic songs. Great technical drummer. Simon has incredibly large shoes he's stepping into.

It was obvious that as beloved Nicko is by us all that he was nearing his end as far as being able to maintain his, and the band's, standard of performance. For him to come back as well as he did from a debilitating stroke is the stuff of legend.

I've loved Maiden since 1982 or thereabouts. I can't wait to see what they sound like with Simon Dawson on the upcoming "Run For Your Lives" tour and hopefully beyond.
 
Now I can say, considering all the possibilities in the metal world more or less, Joe Lazarus was probably the ''right'' choice.

Oh well, I guess the band wanted someone their age and a drummer who Steve played with before.
 
Well, I’m actually super bummed it’s not Joe Lazarus. We have clear evidence that he gets Nicko’s style and plays Maiden songs with great passion and energy. They don’t need anything else than that at this point.

Looks like live experience with Steve was the deciding factor, though.

As for Simon, I don’t know… Perhaps he will do a great job, but I haven’t heard anything from him that would make me go „yup, he’s a great fit”. And he’s an older guy so once again this could mean some limitations. Anyway, I’m glad it’s someone from their circle and not a big, distracting name.

I don’t expect further lineup changes. They don’t announce him as a „member” and mention just drumming for 2025 out of respect to Nicko IMO.
 
Well, this cover kinda calms me a bit. He has a bit of groove and will probably do fine.

Hopefully he brings a kit at least this size. Anything less would look strange.
That is NOT an easy song to cover. Despite what hard rock fans may think of Phil Collins, he was one of the finest drummers in music in his day. If he's on this level of musicianship, I'm confident that Simon will do more than fine unleashed with Maiden.
 
That is NOT an easy song to cover. Despite what hard rock fans may think of Phil Collins, he was one of the finest drummers in music in his day. If he's on this level of musicianship, I'm confident that Simon will do more than fine unleashed with Maiden.
Yup, Phil Collins was a monster drummer. Shame what his solo career did to his reputation as a musician, despite the huge commercial sucess.
 
Based on the feedback (positive and negative) what was the reaction when Clive was replaced by Nicko?
Remember, this happened pre-Internet so you have to consider the context. We got all of our news months after events occurred in magazines like Kerrang!, Circus, etc.

Clive was beloved so there were the usual moans and groans but Nicko killed all of that as soon as listeners heard the intro to "Where Eagles Dare." Jaws dropped, especially when musicians learned that Nick wasn't using a double bass pedal. Between his high level of craft and his animated stage presence, he was accepted by audiences relatively quickly although many fans preferred Clive's less busy, more punk-oriented style of drumming.
 
The Joe Lazarus stuff will be interesting to look back on because AFAIK, no one inside Maiden ever even hinted that he was on the cards. The whole thing was purely fan speculation that snowballed into everyone being convinced it would be him. And all based off of some YouTube vids.

Looks like hs dad was suckered into believing that as well.
 
Remember, this happened pre-Internet so you have to consider the context. We got all of our news months after events occurred in magazines like Kerrang!, Circus, etc.

Clive was beloved so there were the usual moans and groans but Nicko killed all of that as soon as listeners heard the intro to "Where Eagles Dare." Jaws dropped, especially when musicians learned that Nick wasn't using a double bass pedal. Between his high level of craft and his animated stage presence, he was accepted by audiences relatively quickly although many fans preferred Clive's less busy, more punk-oriented style of drumming.
Yep, I wasn't quite back then listening to Maiden, although I found them in few years later.
 
The Joe Lazarus stuff will be interesting to look back on because AFAIK, no one inside Maiden ever even hinted that he was on the cards. The whole thing was purely fan speculation that snowballed into everyone being convinced it would be him. And all based off of some YouTube vids.

Looks like hs dad was suckered into believing that as well.
Are u serious? If his dad got angry it's clear as day that Joe was one of the options. You do not anger at abstract/vague possibility. It was clearly audition of Simon and Joe and Steve choose Simon.
 
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I'm not surprised, maybe slightly disappointed they seemingly picked the safest option since it seems to imply this is just an arrangement they have for the 50th anniversary after which they're done. But there was really no way the only other guy Steve's formed a rhythm section with in the last ten years wasn't very high up on the list.

My biggest concern is really seeing if he can deliver in a stadium setting, but all the other close to the band picks would've had the same issue, except arguably even worse since Dawson's at least been around the scene for many, many years. Still, I probably would've chosen an established name who already has played big gigs to eliminate that concern entirely but I also get why they didn't.
 
Are u serious? If his dad got angry it's clear as day that Joe was one of the options. You do not anger at abstract/vague possibility. It was clearly audition of Simon and Joe and Steve choose Simon.
Well people have been shouting JOE LAZARUS not just on this forum but all over the internet for quite some time. It's not hard to pick up and make it reality. That goes for fans (obviously) but could also affect family members. I'm not sure there ever was an audition for this.
 
As I've said in another thread, them picking a new drummer won't take away they are in their mid 60s themselves, and that the likelihood that the next tour would be one of their last was very high even with Nicko in good health.
This. Anyone who thought that they would go for a younger drummer that would breathe new life into them was deluded. They are all pensioners who are winding down.
 
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