Nicko McBrain recently announced that he will no longer tour with Iron Maiden. At the same time, manager Rod Smallwood revealed that the band already has a replacement drummer lined up for the upcoming tour. Naturally, this has sparked speculation about who the new drummer could be.
These speculations are not new, however, and I’ll try to explain why Joe Lazarus has been a popular guess for some time now.
First, it’s long been anticipated that Nicko McBrain might be the first member to step down, not only because he’s the oldest in the band but also due to the physically demanding nature of his role. In 2022, Nicko disclosed that he had developed arthritis in his hands—a challenging condition for someone playing Iron Maiden’s complex drum parts. Matters worsened in 2023 when he revealed he had suffered a stroke, leaving his right side partially paralyzed. While Nicko impressively continued performing, it’s plausible that Iron Maiden would have prepared a backup plan just in case he couldn’t play.
So, why do many fans think Joe Lazarus could be this backup?
For starters, Steve Harris, Iron Maiden’s bassist and founder, is known for keeping things within the “Maiden family.” Many of his friends and relatives have worked for the band. Joe Lazarus is Steve’s nephew—his mother, Linda Harris, is Steve’s sister. Moreover, Joe’s father, Laz, was the long-time manager of Iron Maiden’s fan club. Joe grew up immersed in all things Iron Maiden.
Fans following Joe Lazarus on social media have seen his flawless drum covers of Iron Maiden songs. He’s also a member of Hi-On Maiden, the official Iron Maiden tribute band, where he performs under the moniker “Nicko McBrain Jnr.”
While these connections are strong, there’s more to suggest Joe Lazarus might be Iron Maiden’s new drummer. Despite his remarkable talent, Joe hasn’t committed to any major band as a permanent member. Instead, he has worked as a session drummer for acts like Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic, subbed for Vinnie Appice with Tara Lynch, and performed with Maiden uniteD and Paul Di’Anno. He’s even worked as a drum tech, assisting Dave Lombardo during Mr. Bungle’s recent tour.
Could Joe Lazarus’s choice to remain a session musician and drum tech be linked to Iron Maiden’s plans? Is it possible they’ve kept him in reserve in case Nicko had to step down? It’s hard to say for sure, but he would certainly be a strong backup option.
I might be entirely wrong, and it’s possible Iron Maiden hasn’t even considered him. Still, I believe this theory holds enough weight to be worth sharing. If you have a better guess, feel free to share it. Either way, it likely won’t be long before Iron Maiden announces who will take over Nicko McBrain’s drumsticks—and I personally hope it’s Joe Lazarus.
Update: What might work against Joe Lazarus being the choice is that he has gigs with another band in July 2025, which would conflict with Iron Maiden’s tour. Additionally, there’s a strong rumour that Simon Dawson, who plays in Steve Harris’s other band, British Lion, could be a strong candidate for the job.
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