IRON MAIDEN Manager ROD SMALLWOOD: 'We Keep Our Plans Strictly To Ourselves. We Let The Fans Know When It's Definite.'

In a new interview with Chile's Radio Futuro, Rod Smallwood, who has managed IRON MAIDEN for 47 years, was asked if he misses the band's longtime drummer Nicko McBrain who announced his retirement from MAIDEN in December 2024. Rod said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I met Nicko about 10 years before he was brought into MAIDEN. And we've been friends for a long time before then. And he's an amazing character. It's so sad his career was curtailed a bit by the stroke. But he's still very active. He's got his book coming out soon. He's doing a speaking tour of Europe, which he started last weekend. So he's in good shape."

Smallwood, who has managed MAIDEN continuously since he first shook hands with the band's founder, bassist Steve Harris, in 1979, was also asked what it has been like to run such a big organization with a lot of responsibility. He responded: "Well, I have a business partner, Andy Taylor. We were at university together way back in the late '60s. And he does the business side. I do everything else. I do the creative. And so I don't have to worry too much about that side of things, which leaves me free to work on, actually, more fun aspects, but also creative aspects."

Asked about MAIDEN's future plans after the completion of the band's ongoing "Run For Your Lives" world tour, Rod said: "Well, to be quite honest, if I told you that, I'd have to shoot you. We keep our plans strictly to ourselves. We let the fans know when it's definite. We don't like rumors. We deal with things in a certain way and always have. So, you really don't wanna know anything. [Laughs]"

MAIDEN has sold over 100 million records, played approximately 2,500 shows across 64 countries, and released 17 studio albums. Five of those have reached No. 1 in the U.K. MAIDEN's most recent LP, 2021's "Senjutsu", reached No. 3 in the United States.

With almost 10 million monthly Spotify listeners, MAIDEN has been one of Britain's most successful touring acts.

The "Run For Your Lives" world tour has been celebrating MAIDEN's 50th anniversary since the band's formation.

Smallwood was awarded an OBE in the June 2026 King's Birthday Honours for services to music and charity, as the founder of Truants Foundation.

Smallwood has managed MAIDEN over the years alongside Phantom Management's Andy Taylor and Dave Shack.

As previously reported, IRON MAIDEN will return to North America in 2027 for a third and final leg of its 50th anniversary "Run For Your Lives" tour. The band will conclude the leg with two festival headline performances at Sonic Temple and Boardwalk Rock.

The surprise run of 16 spring shows follows MAIDEN's recent North American tour, which ended in late September.

Prior to the latest tour announcement, MAIDEN was expected to go on hiatus after wrapping up the 2026 leg of the "Run For Your Lives" tour, which is scheduled to run through the end of November.

MAIDEN said in a press release that "these shows will definitely be the last" on the "Run For Your Lives" tour, which will have included 107 concerts in 36 countries, playing to well over three million fans.

IRON MAIDEN is among the artists who will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. The ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will air on ABC and Disney+ the following month.