This past Monday, April 21, IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson took the stage in Hollywood, California, as part of the Musicians Institute’s MI Conversation Series with host Ryan J. Downey. During the in-depth discussion, Dickinson opened up about MAIDEN’s highly anticipated Run For Your Lives world tour, set to kick off May 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
The upcoming tour is significant not only for its global scale but because it marks the debut of drummer Simon Dawson with the legendary band. Dawson, previously known for his work with MAIDEN co-founder Steve Harris’s side project BRITISH LION, is stepping in to replace longtime drummer Nicko McBrain for live performances.
When asked whether the band had begun rehearsing with Simon, Bruce offered an honest look behind the scenes (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):
“Well, we’ve already had a rehearsal with Simon on the last [MAIDEN] tour. Simon was tagging along with BRITISH LION, as Steve was doing shows [with both bands]. But it was kind of insurance for us because we weren’t sure… We were hoping Nick [IRON MAIDEN’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain] was gonna make the tour, but there were some times during the show when, not so much his drumming, but his physical body was really… We were worried. We were, like, ‘We do not want to end up with Nick in hospital, and we do need to have a backup.'”
Bruce shared how Dawson came into the fold after being recommended by Harris. The band was cautious, unsure if the chemistry would click, but what happened next surprised even them:
“We said to Nick, ‘Look, in the middle of the tour, we’ve got a couple of days in Portland, Oregon. We’re gonna rent a rehearsal place and we’re gonna just give Simon a go just to see if it works, just in case.’ So we did… And honestly, I was pleasantly shocked… I thought, ‘My God, we could do a show tonight if we had to. That’s unreal.’”
As for why Dawson was the final choice after McBrain’s decision to step back from live shows, Dickinson emphasized style over imitation:
“The incredible thing was with Simon… there were other drummers that people thought were kind of in the frame… they all wanted to sound like Nick. And you can’t replace Nicko. You shouldn’t even try to replace him… And if I’m honest, if I closed my eyes at moments during that rehearsal [with Simon], it was like having [late MAIDEN drummer] Clive Burr back in the band.”
Dickinson’s enthusiasm for the upcoming tour is palpable. With rehearsals beginning in just over a week, the vocalist is already immersing himself in the setlist, even during his downtime in an Airbnb.
“I’ve got my little speaker set up in my little Airbnb at the moment. I’ve got the whole setlist on there.”
Fans around the world are now holding their breath, eager to see whether Simon Dawson can carry the torch of one of heavy metal’s most iconic rhythm sections — or if this bold move might spark controversy among longtime devotees.
