A spoken-word tour where drummer Nicko McBrain shares stories from his life and career with Iron Maiden, following the release of his autobiography.
Nicko McBrain is coming to The Gate on Saturday 28 November for an evening in conversation, part of a spoken-word tour that takes him across Europe and the UK. It's a different kind of night from what most of us associate with his name: no drums, no amplifiers, just McBrain sitting down to tell stories.
If you know him, you know him as the drummer for Iron Maiden, a seat he's held since 1982. He's the band's third longest-serving member and has played on every album since Piece of Mind in 1983; by 2026, the records he's played on have sold well over 100 million copies. He retired from touring in 2024, though he's stayed in the group for studio projects, so this is one of the few ways to see him out in the world these days.
The show follows the publication of his autobiography, Hello Boys and Girls!, which comes out on 22 October. The Cardiff date is part of a tour that kicks off in Frankfurt on 26 October and works its way through Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK. On stage, he settles in to regale audiences with colourful stories from behind the drum stool of one of rock's most famous and admired men, alongside lessons from an eventful youth and the highs and lows of his career. It's less of a performance and more of a long-form chat about a life spent at the back of some of the biggest stages in the world.
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Doors open at 18:30 at The Gate, Keppoch Street, Roath, CF24 3JW. Tickets are £47.00 for unreserved seating, which includes a £6.00 booking fee, a £1.00 venue restoration fee and £6.00 face value. The Cardiff date is sold out.
