Nicko McBrain, the legendary drummer of Iron Maiden, has returned to the stage with his Iron Maiden cover band, Titanium Tart. This marks his first public performances since his retirement from extensive touring with Iron Maiden late last year. The band delivered a 10-song set on July 17 at Captain Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian, Florida, which notably included two songs Iron Maiden had never performed live before.
The concert was the first of four Titanium Tart dates scheduled in Florida this month. McBrain powered through an hour and 40-minute performance, opening with “The Number of the Beast.” The night’s setlist was rich with “deep cuts” and less frequently played Iron Maiden songs.
Significantly, the July 17 show marked the first time a member of Iron Maiden played songs from their Senjutsu album, specifically “The Parchment” and “Darkest Hour,” in a live setting. The selection leaned towards longer compositions, with six of the 10 songs exceeding seven minutes in length.
While McBrain stepped down from touring with Iron Maiden in December of last year, he recently suggested the possibility of future collaborations with the band. In an interview with SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk, he did not make a firm commitment but indicated he might appear onstage again for a limited number of songs or even contribute to future studio recordings if Iron Maiden were to create a follow-up to Senjutsu. McBrain stated: “We’re all still part of the family, although I’m not playing the shows. It’s a possibility that when they come over here [to Florida], I might end up doing a show with ’em, just getting up and doing a song or two or just being there… Yeah, who knows?”
Titanium Tart Lineup:
- Paolo Velazquez – vocals
- Mike Rivera – guitar
- Mitch Tanne – guitar
- Rob Stokes – bass
- Eldad Kira – keyboards
- Nicko McBrain – drums
Titanium Tart Setlist — July 17, 2025:
- “The Number of the Beast” (Iron Maiden cover)
- “No More Lies” (Iron Maiden cover) (First time performed by Nicko McBrain since 2014)
- “The Clansman” (Iron Maiden cover)
- “Infinite Dreams” (Iron Maiden cover)
- “The Parchment” (Iron Maiden cover) (Live debut from an Iron Maiden member)
- “Stranger in a Strange Land” (Iron Maiden cover)
- “Darkest Hour” (Iron Maiden cover) (Live debut from an Iron Maiden member)
- “Moonchild” (Iron Maiden cover)
Encore:
- “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (Iron Maiden cover) (First time performed by Nicko McBrain since 2016)
- “Heaven Can Wait” (Iron Maiden cover)
Remaining Titanium Tart Live Shows:
- July 25, The Barn (Sanford, FL)
- July 26, OCC Roadhouse (Clearwater, FL)
