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Hello Boys and Girls!
A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER.
'Rock book of the year.' The Sun
Strap in – Nicko McBrain is finally telling his story, and he’s doing it his way.
Hello Boys and Girls! is a thrilling, hilarious and deeply personal autobiography from the unstoppable drummer behind Iron Maiden. With trademark humour and heart, Nicko takes readers behind the scenes of one of Britain's biggest ever bands.
Nicko joined the band in 1982 after stints with artists like Streetwalker, Pat Travers and Trust. He honed his craft from decades of session work among the highly competitive mean streets and studios of London's Soho. 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.
This is the story of what it feels like to remain not just relevant but more loved than ever after decades at the top, and to live a life transformed by music, brotherhood and belief.
Packed with unforgettable moments, backstage stories, laugh-out-loud anecdotes and raw honesty, Hello Boys and Girls! is more than a rock memoir; it’s a front-row seat to one of heavy metal’s greatest lives.
Nicko’s ready.
Are you?
'Rock book of the year.' The Sun
Strap in – Nicko McBrain is finally telling his story, and he’s doing it his way.
Hello Boys and Girls! is a thrilling, hilarious and deeply personal autobiography from the unstoppable drummer behind Iron Maiden. With trademark humour and heart, Nicko takes readers behind the scenes of one of Britain's biggest ever bands.
Nicko joined the band in 1982 after stints with artists like Streetwalker, Pat Travers and Trust. He honed his craft from decades of session work among the highly competitive mean streets and studios of London's Soho. 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.
This is the story of what it feels like to remain not just relevant but more loved than ever after decades at the top, and to live a life transformed by music, brotherhood and belief.
Packed with unforgettable moments, backstage stories, laugh-out-loud anecdotes and raw honesty, Hello Boys and Girls! is more than a rock memoir; it’s a front-row seat to one of heavy metal’s greatest lives.
Nicko’s ready.
Are you?
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Published October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 30, 2026
Up the Irons! Nicko McBrain tells his story exactly the way he plays: loud, cheeky and with a huge grin on his face.
The early chapters are a treat for anyone who loves the history of British rock. Before Maiden there were years of graft as a session and gigging drummer, working the clubs and studios of Soho and paying his dues with Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust. Those stories are full of characters, scrapes and hard-won lessons, and they explain a lot about the precision and power he brought when he joined Iron Maiden in 1982. From Piece of Mind onwards it is a front row seat on one of the biggest bands this country ever produced, and the tour tales are as funny as you would hope.
What surprised me was how much heart there is. Nicko writes warmly about his bandmates, his family and his faith, and he is candid about the tougher moments too, including the health setback that eventually brought his touring days to a close. It never tips into misery; his humour carries everything.
It rambles in places and the anecdotes occasionally outrun the structure, but that is part of the charm: it reads like a long night down the pub with a legend. Four stars, and essential for Maiden fans.
The early chapters are a treat for anyone who loves the history of British rock. Before Maiden there were years of graft as a session and gigging drummer, working the clubs and studios of Soho and paying his dues with Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust. Those stories are full of characters, scrapes and hard-won lessons, and they explain a lot about the precision and power he brought when he joined Iron Maiden in 1982. From Piece of Mind onwards it is a front row seat on one of the biggest bands this country ever produced, and the tour tales are as funny as you would hope.
What surprised me was how much heart there is. Nicko writes warmly about his bandmates, his family and his faith, and he is candid about the tougher moments too, including the health setback that eventually brought his touring days to a close. It never tips into misery; his humour carries everything.
It rambles in places and the anecdotes occasionally outrun the structure, but that is part of the charm: it reads like a long night down the pub with a legend. Four stars, and essential for Maiden fans.
October 27, 2026
It's the Maiden memoir fans have been waiting for, following Adrian's book that's mostly about fishing and Bruce's book that skirts over the band's history. Some of the most entertaining stuff, however, covers Nicko's pre-Maiden career as a session musician and drummer with Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust, as well as some very amusing sketches of various rock music legends (Phil Collins, Phil Lynott, Keith Moon etc). Nicko comes across as a lovely bloke, although he doesn't attempt to airbrush the warts and all. Highly recommended!
October 26, 2026
Wholesome, honest, and thoroughly entertaining!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews