But after 10 weeks of "intense therapy", he was "able to bounce back to somewhere near 70% recovered" as the heavy metal band began rehearsals for The Future Past Tour, which began in May.

The English musician, 71, has played all the gigs with the band, travelling across Europe for shows which included several dates in the UK in July.

He said he wanted to concentrate on performing before sharing the news about his health with fans.

As well as his statement, he also posted a video message to show his followers "how handsome and well I'm looking".

Sharing details of his illness, McBrain said he suffered a TIA (transient ischaemic attack), also known as a mini stroke, in January, which "thank the Lord... was a minor one".

However, he was initially "very worried that my career was over" after being left paralysed from the shoulder down on his right side.

With the support of his family and therapists, he said he was able to recover.

"I feel it's important to let you know about this now instead of earlier as I was mainly concerned with doing my job and concentrating on getting back to 100% fitness," he wrote. "I'm not there yet but by the grace of God I'm getting better and stronger as the weeks go by."

McBrain thanked fans for "a most wonderful and magical tour so far, you have all been so amazing".

'He did not want to make a fuss and cause any distraction'

Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood also shared a statement, saying: "The rest of the band and l think that what Nicko has been able to achieve since his stroke shows incredible belief and willpower and we are all very proud of him."

He said the band had a "new and musically very complex set to learn" ahead of the tour, but McBrain "just got his head down" and concentrated on becoming fit again.

"We honestly did not know if he would be able to play a whole show until band rehearsals started in May and there was just so much support for him from the band and then genuine relief for all when we saw he was going to be able to do it!

"Nicko being Nicko he did not want to make a fuss and cause any distraction to the tour at the time but, now that he is sure he will soon get there, he thought you fans should know straight from him rather than by any rumours!"

Iron Maiden formed in the late 1970s, with McBrain joining in 1982 following the release of their third album, The Number Of The Beast - the band's first with frontman Bruce Dickinson - which became one of the biggest heavy metal albums of all time.

They have shows planned in Canada and the US later in the year.