Nicko McBrain retires tonight

Nicko McBrain retires tonight

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Discussion

Misanthroper

Original Poster:

251 posts

47 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Iron Maidens drummer of over 40 years has announced he is retiring after tonight’s gig in South America.

He was never my favorite Maiden drummer, but still a big part of a major bands sound over many albums and gigs.

Interesting to see who will replace him.

slopes

40,489 posts

202 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Saw them with Clive Burr and then again with Nicko and i prefer Nicko to Clive Burr but they both provided the band with a big step forward over their predecessors.
After his health issues earlier this year it's no surprise he's decided to retire

Silenoz

933 posts

168 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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My mate messaged me earlier about this, we're going to see them in Manchester next year. Gutted that Nicko won't be on stage (the first time I'll have seen Maiden without him behind the kit) and a sad reminder that time catches us all. I have to remind myself of how many decades it has been since I bought my first Iron Maiden single and drove my parents mad playing it over and over again. Wonder who will step in?

TheDoggingFather

17,284 posts

221 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Sad news, but totally understandable and I respect his decision to pull the plug now before it gets too much. I mean, he's 72. yikes

MonkeyBusiness

4,109 posts

202 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Wow thats big news.
He had a stroke a year or so ago?
Were there not rumours that Dave Murray wouldn't say no to retirement?

Wacky Racer

39,769 posts

262 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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slopes

40,489 posts

202 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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MonkeyBusiness said:
Were there not rumours that Dave Murray wouldn't say no to retirement?
Wouldn't surprise me, other than Harris he's the only band member to appear on every album to date

Acorn1

1,712 posts

35 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Very talented, very funny guy.

I was fortunate enough to meet him briefly many years ago.

Always looked like he was having a blast behind that kit.

Sad to hear.

rodericb

7,953 posts

141 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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Oi now boys and girls 'oo do we think's gonna replace 'im?

Alex Z

1,787 posts

91 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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Some of the articles were suggesting he might be retiring from touring but left it open for him to be in the studio.

The official announcement sounds like the new drummer will be there for everything.

https://www.ironmaiden.com/an-announcement-from-ir...

Misanthroper

Original Poster:

251 posts

47 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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I feel like if they bring in a new drummer they should be involved in both recording and live work. It would be really odd to have Nicko on studio releases then being replicated by a different drummer for tours.

Big shoes to fill whoever they bring in, they either go the route of getting a copycat drummer basically replicating Nicko’s drum parts, or look for a new energy and allow them to keep the essence of the songs but add their signature, I hope it’s the latter.

rodericb

7,953 posts

141 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
quotequote all
It would be cool if they got new drummer and did the Ringo all star band thing where they've got two drummers but Ringo pretty much sits and watches and has the occasional bash on the tubs. Have it like a master and apprentice type of thing. Obviously the new person would be pretty damn proficient in their own right but it'd be a real "handing over the mantle" type of thing.

ScotHill

3,711 posts

124 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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I think there's one drummer they've been lining up for the role for decades now...


CardinalBlue

1,191 posts

92 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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slopes

40,489 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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Makes sense, he's been playing with Steve Harris for the last 12 years.

MonkeyBusiness

4,109 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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Didn't see that coming but a good choice. Steve obviously knows him well.

Can't wait to see his drum kit setup. Would love it if he did it all on a 3 piece kit compared to Nicos 1000 piece setup.

slopes

40,489 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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MonkeyBusiness said:
Didn't see that coming but a good choice. Steve obviously knows him well.

Can't wait to see his drum kit setup. Would love it if he did it all on a 3 piece kit compared to Nicos 1000 piece setup.
But Nicko played every part of his kit by all accounts, if you watch the History of Iron Maiden, Steve Gadd who used to be his drum tech and then became tour manager for Maiden mentioned how he played every part of it.

MonkeyBusiness

4,109 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
quotequote all
slopes said:
But Nicko played every part of his kit by all accounts, if you watch the History of Iron Maiden, Steve Gadd who used to be his drum tech and then became tour manager for Maiden mentioned how he played every part of it.
Probably did but I always thought it was a bit overkill (and I come from an 80/90's metal background where they all had mega kits).

(as a side note Lars Ulrich should never have not rid of his 'puppets' kit - he's been crap since). One for the drumming forum).

slopes

40,489 posts

202 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
quotequote all
MonkeyBusiness said:
slopes said:
But Nicko played every part of his kit by all accounts, if you watch the History of Iron Maiden, Steve Gadd who used to be his drum tech and then became tour manager for Maiden mentioned how he played every part of it.
Probably did but I always thought it was a bit overkill (and I come from an 80/90's metal background where they all had mega kits).

(as a side note Lars Ulrich should never have not rid of his 'puppets' kit - he's been crap since). One for the drumming forum).
Fair point and i think he's slimmed it down since then but be interesting to see how the new guys kit will develop as his kit is tiny compared to Nicko's

Misanthroper

Original Poster:

251 posts

47 months

Monday 9th December 2024
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It is really weird to think of Maiden without Nicko behind the (massive) kit. I did prefer Clive Burr’s drumming style in the way he was more musical with his drumming and would follow guitars and bass, but having listened to Maiden for more years than I care to remember I have huge admiration for Nicko, and he’s always just been there as part of the band. It seems strange to continue without him at this stage of their careers.

For me Somewhere in Time, Seventh Son, and Powerslave are just epic, and Nicko’s drumming was immense on all of them.

I’ll have to have a listen to some of the stuff this new drummer did with British Lion, never paid that side project much attention so haven’t heard of him before.

I expect he’ll take a hired gun role, and after this next tour I really feel like Maiden will retire, they’re still pretty decent but definitely showing the rigours of all the years of doing this.

I’d rather they go out while they’re still able to deliver a good show rather than take the approach of most bands that run their legacy into the ground.

Edited by Misanthroper on Monday 9th December 09:00