Nicko McBrain quits Maiden

[Thenop]

Yes indeed, not surprising considering his age and recent health care. Still, end of en era.
https://www.ironmaiden.com/an-announcement-from-iron-maiden/

[captainkurtz]

One of those guys...like Brian Johnson...that is just intrinsically nice.  No one has a bad word to say about him.  That, in itself, is something of a legacy.

For his long term health, a good decision. Really...they're all getting on, they should be thinking about jacking it in as well...

[Slim]

Sorry to hear he's had health difficulties. I actually know him best from his work with Pat Travers in the late '70s. I lost interest in Maiden before he joined.

[Thenop]

I will always remember him for his introduction on record with the fantastic Where Eagles Dare intro (and in fact the entire track).
Where his peers switched to a double bassdrum or pedal, he kept using a single pedal throughout his career. Only on one song (on the Brave New World album, pressured into it by Kevin Shirley) he used a double pedal, and he did not like it.
EDIT: I forgot mention, he is a barefooted player.

Initially I was devastated when I found out Clive Burr had left, I loved that mans playing so much. He had such a smooth way of going about things, but I quickly warmed to McBrain.

Anyway, this one then, listen to that intro. No that is just one bassdrum, and much use of his toms.

[Matt2112]

A real shame this but completely understandable of course.

I've got to say when I saw them at Leeds Arena last year, only a few months after his stroke, I thought they played and sounded as good as they have in years, so happening upon his statement today was a bit surprising in that respect.

But fair play to him - what a career.

[pdw1]

As everyone has said, sad but understandable. I wonder if the others will continue on beyond this summers tour? Bruce especially has said they would stop if one of them left. We will see what happens but Nicko enjoy your retirement.

[pxr5]

That's a shame, but maybe it is time they called it a day and this could be the catalyst for that.

[David L]

Sorry to hear he's had health difficulties. I actually know him best from his work with Pat Travers in the late '70s. I lost interest in Maiden before he joined.

I've been playing 'Putting It Straight' the last couple of days.

[captainkurtz]

I had no idea he had played with Pat Travers...

[Slim]

Sorry to hear he's had health difficulties. I actually know him best from his work with Pat Travers in the late '70s. I lost interest in Maiden before he joined.

I've been playing 'Putting It Straight' the last couple of days.

Bought that one back in 1978. There's a lot of clever stuff going on, some funk and jazz influences that you might not expect. Reminds me of Todd Rundgren in parts as well.

[David L]

I've never had any time for Maiden myself. They appear to be a gang of blokes with their ages frozen in their mid-twenties. I see them as a musical version of The Eagle comic (with one imposter from The Dandy). Their popularity bewilders me. As far from Rush, within a similar genre, as it's possible to be.
For some reason, I was much more drawn to their contemporaries from the NWOBHM movement including Def Leppard and Praying Mantis. I did see them with Paul DiAnno and was quite impressed but I was in my teens and they were only a few years older.
Their ability to remain such a huge act has been nothing short of phenomenal given that, from a distance, they have progressed very little since they started, both musically and visually. I think their popularity has been maintained, to a large extent, due to them continuing to be such a huge draw overseas, especially in South America. Anyway, each to their own and all that but Nicko McBrain has, undoubtedly been a huge part of their success and fully deserves to sit back and relax a bit after putting in such a shift.
I remember first being aware of Nicko when he was in French band Trust, who were getting a lot of coverage in the UK music press in the early '80s. Coincidentally, after leaving Trust, Nicko was replaced by original Maiden drummer Clive Burr (tragically no longer with us).
Around this time, I started getting into Pat Travers and discovered Nicko's contribution to some of the early Travers material (He was replaced in that band by journeyman sticksman, Tommy Aldridge). On the inner sleeve of Putting It Straight is a photo of the band (at this point a three-piece) showing a suave-looking Nicko wearing a fedora(?) hat that I swear he borrowed from Alex Lifeson (2112 cover) 

[Thenop]

So Steve is bringing in his British Lion mate..