Iron Maiden’s drummer Nicko McBrain retired from the heavy metal touring lifestyle in 2024 following a stroke. And while that might leave the rocker with some extra time on his hands, he isn’t sharing it with just anyone.
McBrain recently told The Telegraph that he was invited to play golf with a world leader. But when he found out that it was Donald Trump, he declined.
“I was actually invited to go and play golf with him,” said McBrain. He continued, explaining, “A friend of mine who’s a massive Republican said, ‘Oh, do you want to come play golf with us? With the President.’ And I said, ‘You f***ing what?’ And I just said, no. No mate. I’m not politically inclined, although I must be because I have my thoughts about him. I’m not amused by the narcissism, and all this kerfuffle about the Epstein files and whatnot, and especially the debauched war that he’s put on Iran.”
How does McBrain feel about the President and his administration? He added, “My last word on Trump and his bunch of cronies is, they should be put in jail.”
Even though he was born and raised in Hackney, McBrain now calls Boca Raton, Florida home. And that puts him in close proximity to Trump’s Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago estate. When asked about the distance, the drummer called it “Too f***ing close, mate.”
Trump isn’t the only person the Iron Maiden drummer is dishing about right now. The 74-year-old just published a memoir, “Hello Boys and Girls!” The new book details the musician’s rise from his working-class beginnings in north London to fame as a metal superstar. McBrain also talked candidly to The Telegraph about his first rehearsal with Iron Maiden way back in 1983, saying, “I realized, this is it now, this is a proper band…When I joined that group, the feeling that I had was that I’d finally found my niche. I’d taken 10 years of my professional career to finally find like-minded people.”
Iron Maiden. Photo: Paul Natkin / Getty ImagesPaul Natkin / Getty Images
Now that he’s stepped back from touring, what does McBrain think about his decision to retire? Aside from refusing to hit the links with Trump, he said, “Sometimes I do sit down, and I get a little melancholy. I’ll just think, I really do miss my brothers. I miss that two hours on stage. I miss that camaraderie.”
The former Iron Maiden member’s rant against Trump got plenty of attention online. And it’s no surprise that McBrain’s fans stand behind his statements about the commander-in-chief.
In a recent Reddit post, one wrote, “My favorite band member just got even better. Awesome,” as others added, “I’ve said it for years, Nicko is a gem of a human,” and “It’s rare these guys talk about politics. Well done, Nicko.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Oct 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.