Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has revealed the band recorded a new album in 2014 and its planned release is on hold while singer Bruce Dickinson recovers from recent cancer treatments.
The band announced Dickinson’s health status on February 19, saying a small cancerous tumour at the back of his tongue was discovered during a routine visit to the doctor just prior to Christmas; a seven week course of chemotherapy and radiology treatment was completed and the prognosis is for a full recovery by late May.
"We were all blown away when we heard the news,” McBrain tells 98.7 The Gater in West Palm Beach, Florida. “But the great thing is Bruce is in great hands back home in England, not only with his family, but his oncologists and all the people that are working with him. They were all very positive, as Bruce has been, through the whole thing.
"Obviously, it's a blow for everybody to hear the news,” the drummer continued. “Last week, the official announcement was made, after he finished his treatment. And all of that treatment went exceedingly well. And from not having spoken to Bruce for a couple of weeks, but talking to our manager, he was in amazing spirits, considering the brutality of the radiology, and he had three chemo sessions.
“So it's been pretty hard, as you can imagine. And he's apparently doing very well. He was in the office Wednesday last week, and apparently he went out. He goes down the pub… although he can't taste his beer. He said, 'At least I know it's a Trooper, I've got the bottle in my hand.' [Laughs] I said, 'Does it still work?' 'Oh yeah!' [Laughs]
"So, just to let everybody know, from what we can gather, he's really in great hands, and he's doing extremely well,” McBrian added. “So we expect him to have a full recovery in the next couple of months.
“And then, watch this space, really. We have made an album. The album was ready to go this year… and it still is. When I say 'was,' we were planning on going out and doing some work around the album, which now, we're all just holding on, and once Bruce is up and running, hopefully in the next couple of months, we'll… You never know when this might happen. You just never know, do you? [Laughs]"
Iron Maiden have been off the road since they wrapped up their Maiden England world tour last summer.
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