So much for Nicko remaining a member of the band

Here is an interview from 2017 where Nicko states he would step away from the band when he is no longer physically capable of playing the songs correctly:

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/new...much_longer_i_plan_to_bow_out_gracefully.html

Funnily enough he even directly says:

'Imagine me trying to play 'Run to the Hills' at fucking 73 years old! So I don't know, mate. But I'm planning on bowing out gracefully.'

Lo and behold, in 2025 Nicko is 73 years of age and is not playing Run To The Hills. I don't think there's much more to it than that, he has always been clear-eyed and level-headed regarding the fact that he may have to retire before Iron Maiden wrap it up.
 
DorotheaMe said:
Janick seems a little less physically fit than on previous tours. For reasons we cannot diagnose from afar This is noticeable in videos and even when you only see him in photos.
This has nothing to do with the atmosphere in the band.
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I would assume age. They are all getting on a bit. It's respectable they are still touring as heavy as they are for as old as they all are
 
Lego said:
I've spent enough time in or adjacent to the industry to know that you simply cannot take public statements like these at full face value. There are nearly always multiple sides to the story when this kind of major change occurs with high-profile artists. I'm not saying it means for certain that anything untoward happened, but acting like we know the whole story and that everything within the band must be unicorns and rainbows because of a press release on IM.com and some very public remarks is kinda asinine.

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I agree with you.
I experiencing this right now as a big Cradle of Filth fan. We raved about what great friends they all are in connection with Ashok and Zoe's wedding celebrations, with Dani as guest. Zoe at the time: “We have no plans to leave CoF as we truly enjoy working together, not to mention working with several of our closest friends.”
How different the truth behind closed doors was!!!!
 
Hendrik said:
I agree with you.
I experiencing this right now as a big Cradle of Filth fan. We raved about what great friends they all are in connection with Ashok and Zoe's wedding celebrations, with Dani as guest. Zoe at the time: “We have no plans to leave CoF as we truly enjoy working together, not to mention working with several of our closest friends.”
How different the truth behind closed doors was!!!!
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Not quite the same situation, is it? Zoe and Ashok went full scorched earth erotica, keep threatening Dani and Dez publically, say this will be the last statement and that they'll involve lawyers, but keep posting dozens of posts and further allegations afterwards.

Nicko on the other hand *checks notes* made a joke in the same style he's been known to do for the last four decades.

Also, the more information is unearthed about Zoe (including testimony from her own sister) the less surprising this whole thing becomes and it was a matter of time until everything blew up.
 
Hendrik said:
My point is the huge difference between what we fans used to believe and the statements made at the time, and the truth behind closed doors.
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That's obviously true. But defaulting to "there's bad blood, their relationship/friendship is falling apart" and so on, without actual indications to that is quite cynical. Especially when these two situations are so different (one blew up, the other has lifelong friends bantering with each other).

People are free to interpret this whole situation however they want. Personally I don't think all these negative takes are making any sense given the information we currently have.
 
I think a lot depends on whether a team separates personal and business relationships. You can hate someone as a colleague or have a lot against a company, yet still be friends with them in private.
 
I now went through the relevant interviews carefully.
My conclusion: We simply don't know.
On the one hand, it true that Nicko has always had this sense of humor and that Bruce often says reckless things, but on the other hand,
they are both professionals and not morons who know that the retirement of someone like Nicko is a special situation and that comments like the ones they made could stir up controversy.
Nevertheless, they decided to go ahead with it and weren't a bit more cautious.
So I can't simply dismiss the opinion of the fans who find this a somewhat remarkable and strange move either.
 
Hendrik said:
My conclusion: We simply don't know.
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We do know.

None of this had any relevance to Nicko retiring, which is quite obviously down to whether he can physically cut it on tour anymore. He's decided that he can't, as is clear in his own words, and it is also clear that he wasn't at the standards of his pre-stroke self at gigs and in documented footage on the web at shows he did post-stroke.

People in this thread trying to nitpick and infer snarky comments are wasting their time, because none of it has any relevance as to why Nicko is not playing drums live anymore for Maiden. If you're reading Nicko's comments and inferring bitterness about Simon being in the band, he's going to be bitter about anyone playing drums in the band because deep down he wishes it was still him, but he can't do it anymore and that's not his fault and it's not Maiden's. And if you're reading Bruce's comments and inferring that Maiden kicked Nicko out because Simon doesn't speed up the tracks live, that's obviously not true either as we all know if Nicko was his old self he would still be Maiden's drummer.
 
I don't know if it's really that simple. With such a big change, there is normally always a lot to sort out and organize.
That can make everyone happy or disgruntled. It's clear and simple that someone is retiring and why, but otherwise...
What role will Nicko have in the future, e.g., on albums, individual performances on tours, or something completely different? What share of the profits will he receive after his retirement, and much more...
 
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