Legendary Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain recently opened up about his harrowing experience after suffering a stroke in January 2023 and the journey he took to recover. restore. McBrain, who has been with the group since 1982, recounted the incident and his rehabilitation process, emphasizing the crucial support he received from medical professionals, his family and his teammates.
The stroke, which left Mr. McBrain partially paralyzed, occurred at his Boca Raton home. Speaking to Baptist Health, McBrain described the moment he realized something was wrong. “I woke up around a quarter to 9. When I turned around, my arm wasn’t moving. I pulled my hand up, felt something, but there was no tingling. When I let go of my hand, it fell. I was like, ‘Oh my.’
He was quickly treated by stroke specialists at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health. Despite the speed of the medical intervention, McBrain faced an uncertain future, unsure whether he could recover in time to join Iron Maiden on their spring tour.
Recalling those difficult days, McBrain said: “I honestly thought it was over. I was trying to move my hand, at least my fingers, saying to myself: ‘Come on, you can do it.’ We had planned this tour two years ago and we started in May. I told myself I had three months to see if I could at least play again. Even holding a wand, I didn’t feel anything.”
In a previous interview with Metal Hammer, McBrain detailed the rigorous rehabilitation process he underwent, supported by his wife Rebecca and his medical team. The support of his Iron Maiden bandmates, particularly bassist Steve Harris, was also instrumental.
This is not Mr. McBrain’s first health battle. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer, which was successfully treated. Similarly, Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, beat throat cancer in 2015, a battle that made McBrain fear for the band’s future.
