New in 2025, Modern Drummer debuted a new podcast called Metal Sticks, hosted by Modern Drummer Publisher and CEO David Frangioni and legendary drummer Nicko McBrain, who recently retired from 42 years with Iron Maiden. The idea for the podcast was a combination of the duo’s passion and love of heavy metal coinciding with Nicko’s retirement from touring. Frangioni picks up the story, “Nicko and I have been friends for many years, and we often meet for lunch. After he retired In December of 2024, we put our heads together and started to brainstorm a collaboration focused on heavy metal. We decided to make Metal Sticks the podcast that we would want to watch as lovers of hard rock and as passionate heavy metal fans. But we wanted it to be much more than that. Metal Sticks combines that idea with a celebration of Nicko’s 42 years in Iron Maiden, […]

December 2025 Issue