Longtime Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain brought his solo project Titanium Tart to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 5, marking the second stop on a five-date regional run.
Fan-filmed footage of the complete performance has surfaced online, capturing McBrain navigating a 12-song set consisting entirely of Iron Maiden material. Rather than relying heavily on radio singles, the setlist favored the British metal legends’ longer, more progressive epics, including “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner“, “For The Greater Good Of God“, and “Sign Of The Cross“. The performance also featured “The Writing On The Wall” and “Darkest Hour” from 2021’s Senjutsu, which marked McBrain‘s final studio album before stepping away from global touring.
The current Titanium Tart lineup features McBrain alongside vocalist Paolo Velazquez, guitarists Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne, bassist Rob Stokes, and keyboardist Eldad Kira.
The Southeastern mini-tour represents a significant personal milestone for McBrain. Following a transient ischaemic attack (stroke) in January 2023 that initially left him paralyzed on his right side, the drummer pushed through a grueling recovery process to rejoin Iron Maiden on the road later that year. However, the physical demands of the band’s relentless global itinerary ultimately proved too strenuous. In December 2024, McBrain officially stepped down from Iron Maiden‘s touring lineup, passing the sticks to Simon Dawson (drummer for Steve Harris‘ side project British Lion).
The stroke marked McBrain‘s second major health crisis in four years, following a quiet battle with stage 1 laryngeal cancer in 2020 that required the surgical removal of a tumor.
McBrain initially joined Iron Maiden in December 1982, replacing the late Clive Burr ahead of the seminal 1983 album Piece Of Mind. The two acts had crossed paths the previous year when McBrain‘s former group Trust supported Iron Maiden on the U.K. leg of the Killers tour. Bringing a lighter, highly technical swing that contrasted with Burr‘s punk-influenced attack, McBrain‘s stylistic shift paved the way for principal songwriter Steve Harris to explore the ambitious, extended compositions that have defined the band’s output for decades. By the time he retired from the road, he stood as the band’s third longest-serving member behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.
Watch the fan-filmed footage from Fort Lauderdale below.
Titanium Tart Fort Lauderdale Setlist:
- “The Number Of The Beast“
- “Infinite Dreams“
- “The Writing On The Wall“
- “The Clansman“
- “Sign Of The Cross“
- “Darkest Hour“
- “Stranger In A Strange Land“
- “When The Wild Wind Blows“
- “The Trooper“
Encore:
- “For The Greater Good Of God“
- “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner“
- “Hallowed Be Thy Name“
Remaining Titanium Tart 2026 Tour Dates:
- Sep 11 – The Albatross, Jacksonville, FL
- Sep 13 – Center Stage Loft, Atlanta, GA
- Sep 19 – OCC Roadhouse, Clearwater, FL
