Iron Maiden‘s legendary drummer Nicko McBrain has announced his autobiography Hello Boys And Girls!, to be published by Harper Nonfiction in hardback, ebook and audio on 22nd October 2026.
The book covers McBrain’s full career, from his decades of session work in the highly competitive streets and studios of London’s Soho through stints with Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust, to joining Iron Maiden in 1982 and the four decades that followed. Through his powerful, precise drumming and charismatic stage presence, the long-serving drummer became a metal icon, pivotal in shaping Iron Maiden‘s dynamic sound.
McBrain stepped back from touring with Iron Maiden in December 2024 following his 2023 stroke, with Simon Dawson taking over the touring drum stool for the 2025 Run For Your Lives tour. McBrain remains part of the Maiden family for non-touring projects, and Hello Boys And Girls! arrives as the most extensive look yet behind the curtain of one of Britain’s biggest ever bands.
The publisher promises trademark humour and heart, with McBrain taking readers through the highs and lows of life on the road, in the studio and as ‘Mr Iron Maiden’ to the worldwide legion of fans. Backstage stories, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and raw honesty are packed in alongside reflections on his peers including Keith Moon, John Bonham, Phil Collins, Ian Paice, Carmine Appice and Buddy Rich.
Nicko McBrain said: “I’m very excited and honoured to be working with the wonderful HarperNonFiction Team on my very own book full of lots of fun stories, anecdotes and of course my incredible experiences with some of the greatest musicians and performers from the 70s, 80s and beyond! I am blessed to be able to finally share my path to where I am today, in my own words, with the world.”
McBrain has hinted at the autobiography for some time, telling MetalSucks last year that he had “21 chapters, and that’s one chapter per year of my life, so gonna be a marathon book.” Whether the final published version stretches that far or has been tightened for the page remains to be seen, but expect plenty.
Hello Boys And Girls! publishes 22nd October 2026 via Harper Nonfiction.
