How long left??

Nico McBrain is 57. Do people comment on how long he will last as Iron Maiden's drummer??

Well there's a few occasions I noted his real age.

My brother used to buy some fanzine called "KTF" in one issue in 2000 it had a page devoted to Tico's birthday and focusing on the fact he was 51.

I was also watching Sky sports news one day in 2005, it had a feature on Tico's golfing and he said "Hey, I'm 55 golf helps me with my posture"

Now his age seems to have been clocked back.

I reckon that The Circle and Greatest Hits tours will be the last major tours. Whether or not they'll continue making albums after that, I'm not sure. It's funny, I remember pondering whether the Bounce tour would be their last one and being pretty certain that it wouldbe, and obviously I was proved wrong

They probably do, although not being a member of any Maiden boards, I couldn't tell you for sure.

Is it not a logical thing to consider? The guy's approaching an age where most people retire from regular day jobs that don't involve travelling all over the world and a rigorous 2-3hr workout almost every night. The touring is bound to stop in the next few years and I can't see Bon Jovi as a band continuing to write new albums without the prospect of supporting tours.

Plus how gutting would it be if they stopped touring but then actually wrote an album in the vein of TD, KTF or NJ and there was never any hope of ever seeing the songs performed live?

I think when BJ split it will just give freedom for Jon & Richie to persue their own projects.

Jon would have no problem in putting a band together, as he has before. Richie too will release his own music and finally get the chance to tour again.

This could all be 3-4 years away I would think but I cannot see Bon Jovi being around after 5 more years. I think this album, the greatest hits and then maybe one more album/tour.


Another point...

They do not have to play a show every night. They could easily cut down the size of a tour if nec to allow more recovery time if needed. This may happen in time.

Unless there is some real evidence I would take the age of Tico with a pinch of salt. Whether he is 50, 55 or 60 so long as he can play then no problem IMO.

Hugh McDonald - December 28, 1950 - age 58
David Bryan - February 7, 1962 - age 47
Richie Sambora - July 11, 1959 - age 50
Tico Torres - October 7, 1953 - age 55
Jon Bon Jovi - March 2, 1962 - age 47


Bruce Springsteen - September 23, 1949 - age 60
Roy Bittan - July 2, 1949 - age 60
Clarence Clemons - January 11, 1942 - age 67
Nils Lofgren - June 21, 1951 - age 58
Patti Scialfa - July 29, 1953 - age 56
Garry Tallent - October 27, 1949 - age 59
Steven Van Zandt - November 22, 1950 - age 58
Max Weinberg - April 13, 1951 - age 58


This may or may not be a good example.

Bruce and the band are touring and still putting out 2 & 3/4 hr high energy shows. If they can do that there is no reason that BJ cant.

It's funny you should mention The Boss actually. I watched the Hyde Park show they aired on Sky 3 as part of that "Free Pass" thing they had on UK TV last weekend and thought he looked physically exhausted after he climbed up those steps back to the stage during 'Born to Run'.

That and Clarence looking very frail with his walking stick makes me think they defo won't be doing it in a couple of years time.

They do have a fair few years on Jovi though as you said.

Bruce did look tired at that concert, he put all of energy into the previous nights show at Glastonbury though.

Clarence is in all honesty spent, and with him going in for major spinal surgery after this tour I can't see another ESB tour of the scale we've just saw.

Thankfully all the members of Bon Jovi seem in good health.

Tico is 55. He was born Oct 7, 1953. I would say that the absolute maximum amount of time left is 10 years. That would see Tico being 65 - which is starting to push it for a drummer. Hugh would be 68 which is really getting on. Dave and Jon would be pushing 60 and Jon stated that he could never see himself touring at that age not to mention how Jons voice would sound. I reckon Richie could pull off the guitarwork for a while but eventually the material would start to lose it's quality.

They might not last 10 years but I reckon they could with some effort. As far as what is actually likely to happen I'd say the Circle tour will go through 2010 and join a GH tour in 2011. Probably one more album afer that, maybe with some unreleased archives.

Then when the day comes the farewell tour will happen and against the backdrop of 100,000 fans crowded into an arena in NJ, Jon Bon Jovi will will rip his heart out over one last song while Richie Sambora counters perfectly with his guitar, Tico and Hugh keeping sharp rhythm as Dave play his keys for the final song under the legendary banner of Bon Jovi. When the sun sets on that final day and the last amp has sounded out, a legacy is complete.

Perhaps they will go onto having seperate careers, perhaps there will be reunions and one-off shows, but as far as I'm concerned when those men leave that stage on that final night I have lost something great.