BREAKING: Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain Sh…read more.
London, July 7, 2025
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has shared an emotional message following the passing of his longtime friend and tour companion Martin Hayes, a beloved sound engineer who worked with the band for over three decades. Hayes passed away peacefully in his sleep last Saturday at age 68, leaving behind a legacy of loyalty, laughter, and quiet brilliance behind the scenes of some of rock’s greatest tours.
For Nicko, the loss hit close to the heart.
“I’ve lost one of my closest mates,” McBrain wrote in a deeply personal post on Monday. “Martin wasn’t just the guy at the desk or the man in the shadows. He was the soul backstage. The heartbeat no one saw but every one of us felt.”
Martin Hayes had been with Iron Maiden since the late ’80s, having joined the crew during the band’s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son tour. He quickly became more than just a sound tech he became family.
“There were nights when the crowd was roaring, and the stage lights were blinding,” McBrain recalled. “But it was Martin’s calm voice in my monitor or his thumbs-up from the wings that always grounded me. Always reminded me we were in good hands.”
The drummer, who recently stepped back from touring due to health issues, also offered condolences to Hayes’ family his wife Anne, son Thomas, and granddaughter Ellie.
“To Anne, Thomas, and sweet Ellie you’ve lost a husband, a dad, and a granddad. But please know you’re surrounded by the love of thousands who knew Martin as the giant he truly was. We are grieving with you. We are remembering with you.”
In the hours following McBrain’s post, tributes from fans and fellow musicians poured in. Many shared stories of Martin’s quiet generosity, his dry sense of humor, and the steadiness he brought to the chaotic life of touring.
Bruce Dickinson also added his voice to the growing chorus of grief:
“Martin wasn’t on stage, but every note we ever played passed through his hands. That’s not just tech that’s trust. We’ll never forget him.”
A private service for Martin Hayes is being planned by his family in Hertfordshire, with a public celebration of life expected later this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the British Heart Foundation, a cause close to Martin’s heart.
As Nicko closed his tribute, he left a final note that struck a chord with all who knew Hayes:
“Rest easy, old friend. You kept the sound alive. You kept us together. We’ll carry your memory on every beat.”
