Iron Maiden has announced that Simon Dawson from Steve Harris’s other band, British Lion, will step in as the drummer for their upcoming tour, replacing Nicko McBrain.
Simon Dawson is best known for his work with British Lion. He played on three tracks of their 2012 debut album, while Ian Roberts and Richard Cook handled the rest. On The Burning (2020), Dawson played on every track. Notably, Dawson was also part of an early lineup of Dirty Deeds, a band Harris supported in the ’90s, recording in Harris’s studio, releasing two albums on Steve’s Beast Records, and even joining Iron Maiden on tour.
Dawson’s career spans decades, beginning in 1986 when he released the album Nine Inches of God with the obscure heavy metal band Deep Switch under the name Simon DeMontford. His most prominent success came with thrash/groove metal band Dearly Beheaded, which gained attention for their albums released in 1996 and 1997. Dawson has also recorded with The Outfield, Airrace, and Dead Soul Communion. Additionally, he had a stint with Devilment, a side project of Cradle of Filth’s Dani Filth.
Why Simon Dawson?
Steve Harris selecting someone from his close circle is no surprise—it’s a pattern in Iron Maiden’s history. Every member has had some prior connection to the band: Adrian Smith was a schoolmate of Dave Murray, Bruce Dickinson played in Samson, which Maiden opened for, Nicko McBrain performed with Trust as their support act and appeared in the Number of the Beast video, and Janick Gers and Blaze Bayley also had ties through solo projects or opening slots. Simon Dawson fits this tradition perfectly.
While many fans speculated that Joe Lazarus, Harris’s nephew, would take over given his readiness to step in during emergencies, Dawson was reportedly also prepared for such a scenario. As British Lion frequently performed concerts the day before Iron Maiden, Dawson’s familiarity with Harris and the inner circle likely played a key role. Dawson’s age and extensive touring experience with Harris might have made him a more natural choice over Lazarus.
Ultimately, Harris’s decision to choose a longtime collaborator he trusts and has toured with extensively keeps the band dynamic steady and avoids major shifts.
Congratulations to Simon Dawson on his new role! The next time we see Iron Maiden, it’ll be with him behind the drum kit. Will he bring along Sooty?
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