As if traveling the world as drummer for Iron Maiden wasn’t enough to fill his plate, Nicko McBrain has added restaurateur to his set list. The Boca Raton resident, 55, is the co-owner of the newly opened Rock N Roll Ribs, with neighbor Rick “Moby” Baum. The two, who play in the band McBrain Damage, wanted their Coral Springs rock ‘n’ roll-themed spot to blend the worlds of metal and homemade barbecue. The idea was spawned a few years ago after a backyard cookout, when Baum impressed everyone — especially McBrain — with his recipes. Soon the Brit was on board with a few innovative ideas of his own and Rock N Roll Ribs was born.

This started with a backyard cookout?

“Rick Baum and I used to have the rib cook-offs all the time. Rick always made the best ribs and I always tried to find out how he made them and he wouldn’t tell me for years his secret. So he finally told me how he made them, and I prepped it with him, and added some English ingredients and they were so good our friends said you guys ought to open a restaurant. We looked at each other and thought, that ain’t a bad idea! Rock N Roll Ribs!”

How did it move from there?

“Over the years, we gradually got things together. Rick went shopping around the area and we found this wonderful establishment — it’s very small and it suits us as we didn’t want to go too big. We just wanted to get as many people as we could interested in enjoying our food.”

Compare playing with Iron Maiden and owning a restaurant.

“It’s tough. You know, playing drums for Iron Maiden two hours a night, that’s a stretch. But here I go home at the end of the day after being here almost 12 hours and I’m absolutely shagged.”

Enjoying the experience?

“I’m really enjoying it as I’m getting to meet a lot of people, and it’s not just Iron Maiden fans. It’s people form the local area, and we had a guy drive from Melbourne the other day. It’s a long way.

“The ambience of a restaurant is very important. You won’t hear Barry Manilow in here; you won’t hear Rod Stewart, Kiss or Guns N Roses, sorry boys and girls. All you will here is classical, beautiful metal.”

What’s next for Iron Maiden?

“There will be a new record. We start recording next month.”

– Hart Baur