Around 200 people attended the signing, with fans of different generations coming to see a musician who had spent more than forty years behind the drums for one of the world’s biggest heavy metal bands. Some had followed Iron Maiden for decades, while others had discovered their music much more recently.

Manchester was one of five stops on McBrain‘s UK book signing tour. He had already appeared in London on 19 October and Birmingham on 20 October, with Newcastle and Edinburgh following on 22 and 23 October. The autobiography was officially released on 22 October 2026.

The book covers much more than his years with Iron Maiden. Nicko looks back at his childhood in London, his first experiences as a musician and the events that eventually led him to join the band in 1982. He also writes about his personal life and some of the more difficult periods he experienced away from music.

His first album with Iron Maiden was Piece of Mind in 1983, which included ‘The Trooper’ and ‘Flight of Icarus’. It was the beginning of a remarkable career that saw him record numerous albums and perform in front of audiences around the world.

For many fans, McBrain was never just the drummer. His humour, personality and unmistakable playing style made him a favourite among Iron Maiden supporters.

In January 2023, he suffered a stroke that affected his ability to play. Although he returned to performing, he eventually announced his retirement from touring in December 2024. His final concert with Iron Maiden took place in São Paulo, Brazil, on 7 December 2024.

The signing in Manchester gave fans an opportunity they would rarely get at a concert. There was no huge stage or drum kit separating them from McBrain. They could meet him in person, exchange a few words and leave with a signed copy of his book.

With so many years spent recording and touring with Iron Maiden, McBrain certainly has plenty to write about. Hello Boys and Girls! offers fans a closer look at his life, including the years before he became one of heavy metal’s best-known drummers.

The post Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain Signs Books in Manchester appeared first on RAMzine.

The announcement lands alongside news of Wakeman’s definitive autobiography, also titled The Wizard of Prog, which promises a wild and witty look back at over 50 years of rock ‘n’ roll excess, dramatic comebacks, and musical triumphs. The book is set for publication on 29 October 2026.

A Career-Spanning Setlist

While previous tours under the English Rock Ensemble banner—such as the highly successful Return Of The Caped Crusader series—focused on full-album performances, the 2027 shows will take a broader approach. Audiences can expect a career-spanning setlist packed with global fan favourites, featuring epic extracts from solo masterpieces like Journey To The Centre Of The Earth and The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights Of The Round Table.

The tour will also heavily feature classic material from his era-defining tenure with prog icons YES. It bridges the gap between his symphonic solo work and the legendary 1970s arrangements that RAMzine recently highlighted in our retrospective feature, Rick Wakeman – In The Seventies.

“All tours are special, but this one is really very special,” Wakeman teased. “I can’t exactly tell you why, but trust me… it is!”

The powerhouse band line-up will mirror recent touring ensembles, featuring Jesse Smith on lead vocals, Dave Colquhoun on guitars, Lee Pomeroy on bass, Adam Falkner on drums, and Rick’s son, Adam Wakeman, handling keyboards and guitars.

Extra Date Added Due To Demand

The tour kicks off on 17 February 2027 at the Brighton Dome, winding through major UK venues including the Bristol Beacon. This follows massive momentum for the wider progressive scene in the UK, fresh off the heels of the YES Announce UK Fragile Tour announcements earlier this year. Due to exceptional demand during the initial onsale, an extra date has already been added at the Reading Hexagon on Tuesday 9 March 2027.

Tickets for the newly added Reading show go on sale today, Friday 5 June 2026, at 10:00 AM via MyTicket.

Rick Wakeman 2027 UK Tour Dates:

• 17 Feb — Brighton Dome
• 18 Feb — Poole Lighthouse
• 19 Feb — Bristol Beacon
• 21 Feb — Cardiff New Theatre
• 22 Feb — Ipswich Regent Theatre
• 24 Feb — Manchester Opera House
• 25 Feb — Edinburgh Usher Hall
• 26 Feb — Gateshead Glasshouse
• 28 Feb — Sheffield City Hall
• 01 Mar — Liverpool Philharmonic
• 03 Mar — Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
• 04 Mar — Oxford New Theatre
• 05 Mar — Southend Cliffs Pavilion
• 07 Mar — London Coliseum
• 08 Mar — Birmingham Symphony Hall
• 09 Mar — Reading Hexagon (JUST ADDED)
• 11 Mar — York Barbican
• 12 Mar — Leicester De Montfort Hall

The post Rick Wakeman Announces Massive 2027 ‘The Wizard Of Prog’ UK Tour appeared first on RAMzine.

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.

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