Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain gives update on stroke recovery
He has revealed he is “85 to 90 percent back to strength”.
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has given fans an update on his health after he suffered a stroke in January.
McBrain suffered a minor stroke at the start of this year, which left him partially paralysed on his right side.
Speaking on SiriusXM as part of the radio station’s Trunk Nation Power Trip Special, McBrain told fans that he is “85 to 90 percent back to strength” after the incident.
Discussing how he has had to adapt his drumming for the band’s ongoing ‘Future Past’ world tour, he said: “It started off a little shaky for me, but as the time [went on] and the more shows we performed, I started to get a little bit more strength and they’d been really rocking out well. And the last couple of months have been fantastic.
“Some fills that everybody knows me for on certain songs, I’ve had to improvise those at rehearsals to be able to actually play the songs,” he said. “But I’m definitely getting stronger.”
Prior to his stroke, McBrain was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2020, for which he is now in remission.
Discussing how he sought medical help after noticing a change in his voice, McBrain explained: “When I play drums with the band, I actually sort of scream and yell while I play, like a Judo guy slapping the mat. When you are lying down in a quiet room and you speak and hear your voice in your head and have a cold, you sound different. This happened to me.
“I thought this is very reminiscent – this different sounding voice of mine – to when I finish a tour or after a show. I didn’t have a cold or any symptoms of illness at all. I started to feel that I was clearing my throat more when I was in conversations. So, I just took it on myself to call my doctor.”