Always found this drummer insanely underrated. I didn't hear anyone say he was a mediocre drummer mind you, but I didn't hear many praises either. His skill and writing are top notch in my opinion.
SIT and Seventh Son marks the peak for all of them musically, both as individual players and as songwriters. Bruces voice on SSOASS is unmatched because of its power, theatrical artistry and genuine sound. You can't copy it, it's just refined passion, authenticity and rawness.
Legend says Steve asked Nicko to invent a drum solo as the intro of the song, he then spent half a day creating a 25 second drum solo. Steve then said he meant short and snappy, Nicko was like "oh", and the result is audible on the record.
Nicko plays some of the biggest drum kits I’ve ever seen, and he makes use of all of them that takes skill, a lot of people refer to him as an octopus.
"One can recognize an Iron Maiden song just with the drums part, which is a rarity in Heavy Metal" Spot on!! This truly shows how special Nicko McBrain is
Once I was assigned to participate to a tribute for Iron Maiden. I picked the song 'Powerslave' cos' it is one of the songs which I remember my self air-drumming to it. Before starting meeting with the boys to rehearse the songs, I found a the isolated drumtrack of the Powerslave in UA-cam. Then I realized that what I used to hear on the album version was half of what NMB actually plays. It was like having Bohman, Paice and Downey in one person but being a part of each riff. Bearing in mind that Nicko was playing in a most uncomfortable drum set-up (sitting too low, all toms and cymbals elevated above head height and with almost 30° tilted inwards snare, I came to the conclusion that this drummer is more than incredible. He is a legend. Of course, I've spend twice the time rehearsing the song since what I knew was half of what he was actually playing, having hard time to maintain that groove with all ghost notes, steady and fast foot work and hi hat opening on up-beats. NMB should be awarded to the top ranks and not due to Iron Maiden's success.
This was totally amazing and must have taken you quite a while to put together. All the more incredible since you did it from a country which is basically a war zone. I am in Australia and Maiden are touring later this year. I really feel for you guys who currently won't get the chance to see the band live. Maiden were last supposed to tour Australia a few years back and we had our tickets purchased but the band had to pull out due to covid which had just hit the world at that time. Would love similar videos about Nicko in the 90s and beyond by the way.
He definitely had a very unique sound & with that signature running march tempo & alot of people even thought he had a double bass kick when he didn't!
Nicko is a force of nature, no question about that! I was just listening to Piece Of Mind earlier and thinking how he really was the star of that album. I mean the opening of the album just in itself, what an announcement!! Happy Birthday, Nicko! What ho sed de ting!
I have heard that other drummers watched Niko drumming behind his kit during festivals, that is how they loved his style and that he used the while kit.
@@Coconuthut1 TXF has grown on me over the years. I like how ballsy it is with its unrelenting bleak mood and 10 minute opener. Steve brought a new style with no apologies, which was the right thing to do with such a different singer.
I'm a guitarist and Nicko's work is what made me love drums, and I'm dreaming of learning to play one day (too little time and money though xD). His playing just always had the melody. Btw. Always good to remember his work with Pat Travers Band. And I think it's a real challenge to make drums sound so musical and fluid while keeping the rhythm perfectly. Plus think about all of the small things he incorporates aside for setting the pace and mood. I mean, there was a piece of wood during ROTAM which simulated the creaking of the deck, the Japanese drums on Senjutsu, the gong played with a bow to make you hear the R101 crash in EOTC... And I think Adrian once said that Nicko is an amazing funk drummer, which he unfortunately cannot show in Maiden. Hope he lives long and continues to love what he's doing.
Awesome video thanks! Heard loads o stuff in there I'd not spotted before - and pretty sure he did all that with one bass pedal!? Would love to hear chorus of Madness tho - it's drums to that which made me love the song! And yes please do more of these!
Nicko is amazing. I'm surprised you did't share the world's introduction to Nic in Maiden. The very intro on the very first song on the very first Maiden album to feature his playing. And just to hammer home the point, they opened that first tour with the song. Where Eagles Dare. 10 seconds and you already knew Maiden had knocked it out of the park.
You should do a series of these for all the band members including the second one for Nicko, and even go back to the likes of Paul and Clive and how their sound shaped the early days of maiden
I feel that at his peak Nicko was one of the best metal drummers around. For me his standout performances were in Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time (his best), then Seventh Son (which had a really nice drum production).
Too good to be a metal drummer, and he himself doesn’t consider being one. Overqualified for Maiden, they alternated their approach to each and every song to revolve around his playing to this day. Recently turned 72, long live my good man!
I love Nicko, but I remember Dickinson saying that Clive was actually a better Maiden drummer I think he developed some of the key features of Maiden rhythm and Nicko elevated them for sure, I think Cilve had a better groove, Nicko has the technique imho.
I love listening to his performances on all the live albums as well. His parts are so well composed and performed with such panache that it even the most complicated parts sound simple. It’s like it takes no effort. I think listening to a song like Hallowed Be Thy Name is a great example of how he took Clive’s parts and recreated them to his own style. Each part is much more nuanced and meticulously crafted which ultimately fits the song better. I can’t say enough about the amazing sense of rhythm he brings to their sound. By far one of my favorite drummers in any genre. Happy birthday Nicko!!!
He came to my high school in the USA on a drum tour in 1987 or 88 (before Seventh Son came out). He was mad somone robbed his van during unloading, but still was in a good enough mood to give us a good show. He's funny as hell and wicked with the sticks. He answered all our questions and personally signed photgraphs for anyone who waited after the show. A true gent!
I mean no disrespect to Nicko, but I've always thought maiden had more groove and sounded tighter with Clive. I feel it's a similar thing with G&R and Steven/Matt, or even ACDC with Phil/Chris.
You remind me of a Steve Hughes standup routine, dude! Somewhere in Scandinavia comparing ages... "How old are you?" _"36. How old are you, Steve?"_ "42." _"Ah. You are the lucky one..."_ "How d'you work that out?" _"You have had more time to listen to Iron Maiden!"_
Nicho brought the right atmospheres for each album from the technological ones of Somewhere in time to the almost prog/class rock ones of Seventh, in the same way Clive was an unrivaled genius in the first 3
For shure he is the most GROOVING metal drummer ever with the best drumsound, too! 😎💯🤟That`s why Maiden where always bit different, because of the groove. Also Clive Burr was like this!
I would REALLY love a 90s video of Nickos parts! Even more than the 80s. Suggestions for parts I would recommend: - Brighter than a Thousand Suns - Sign of the Cross - Book of Souls - Speed of Light (need more cowbell) - The Talisman - The Fallen Angel - Montsegur 🤘🤘🤘
every time i listen to can i play with madness i think as nicko as a doctor, because he knew bruce had a fever and the only prescription was... yeah go ahead with nicko's drumming in the 90s and 2000s, there're some hidden jewels that are overlooked most of the time...
Nicko is amazing. To play with power *and* skill the way he does is rare. As I said when news came out about his stroke, Nicko playing at 90% ability is better than most drummers at 100%.
What's your favourite Nicko McBrain drum part?
Gotta say i really like The edge of darkness, the drumming of Nicko is just perfect
I always loved the intro to Where Eagles Dare.
deja-vu, oddly enough, is probably nicko's best drumming on a maiden album, period.
Brighter than a Thousand Suns
Honestly out of the silent planet, the gallop is just 🤌🤌
It's not just the fact that Nicko is a great drummer but he is a character! He's a true performer and brings in more than just his (amazing) drumming.
Always wanted his kick drum to be mixed louder, that right foot is just incredible and people really miss out on it
Exactly! Shame that the kick drum is pretty low on the 80s albums. Mid 90s they mixed it louder but after brave new world it has been pretty good👍
Always found this drummer insanely underrated. I didn't hear anyone say he was a mediocre drummer mind you, but I didn't hear many praises either. His skill and writing are top notch in my opinion.
underrated. he was always no. 1 in polls and charts in every magazine for years
@@maidenmovies Good then. Didn't see any. Maybe it was the old charts
@@thenomad4123every year he was no. 1 in readers polls in Hammer, Kerrang and almost every rock magazine
And he can also play a little bass.
underrated? He was inducted in the modern drummer hall of fame
That galloping drum part in “The Trooper” is awesome!
It's good but it's not difficult. I used to play it back in the 90s a d I'm not a great drummer.
@@adiemorton-wright2150He said awesome,not difficult
Seventh Son contains some of Nicko’s best drumming in my opinion. Infinite Dreams and the title track in particular.
SIT and Seventh Son marks the peak for all of them musically, both as individual players and as songwriters. Bruces voice on SSOASS is unmatched because of its power, theatrical artistry and genuine sound. You can't copy it, it's just refined passion, authenticity and rawness.
R.I.P. Clive.
Always one.
He's more funky than most other metal drummers. There's always a nice swing in his grooves.
His introduction with where eagles dare.
absolutely. It's like his audition tape ! and he kills it
Amen, Bro.
Up the IRONS!!!🤘🏼
Greetings from Germany.
yeah thats the one I was thinking of too
It's bloody ridiculous, mindblowing!!
Legend says Steve asked Nicko to invent a drum solo as the intro of the song, he then spent half a day creating a 25 second drum solo. Steve then said he meant short and snappy, Nicko was like "oh", and the result is audible on the record.
Nicko plays some of the biggest drum kits I’ve ever seen, and he makes use of all of them that takes skill, a lot of people refer to him as an octopus.
"One can recognize an Iron Maiden song just with the drums part, which is a rarity in Heavy Metal"
Spot on!!
This truly shows how special Nicko McBrain is
Once I was assigned to participate to a tribute for Iron Maiden. I picked the song 'Powerslave' cos' it is one of the songs which I remember my self air-drumming to it. Before starting meeting with the boys to rehearse the songs, I found a the isolated drumtrack of the Powerslave in UA-cam. Then I realized that what I used to hear on the album version was half of what NMB actually plays. It was like having Bohman, Paice and Downey in one person but being a part of each riff. Bearing in mind that Nicko was playing in a most uncomfortable drum set-up (sitting too low, all toms and cymbals elevated above head height and with almost 30° tilted inwards snare, I came to the conclusion that this drummer is more than incredible. He is a legend.
Of course, I've spend twice the time rehearsing the song since what I knew was half of what he was actually playing, having hard time to maintain that groove with all ghost notes, steady and fast foot work and hi hat opening on up-beats. NMB should be awarded to the top ranks and not due to Iron Maiden's success.
This was totally amazing and must have taken you quite a while to put together. All the more incredible since you did it from a country which is basically a war zone. I am in Australia and Maiden are touring later this year. I really feel for you guys who currently won't get the chance to see the band live. Maiden were last supposed to tour Australia a few years back and we had our tickets purchased but the band had to pull out due to covid which had just hit the world at that time. Would love similar videos about Nicko in the 90s and beyond by the way.
Same in NZ, but no issue getting our money back though, it was all done for you automatically without asking...🤘
He definitely had a very unique sound & with that signature running march tempo & alot of people even thought he had a double bass kick when he didn't!
He has a very unique style and phasing. Top 10 favorite rock drummers for me.
I just love his ride cymbal positioning.
This is GOLD!!!! FRIGGIN GOLD!!!! Bravo, flaco!!! The isolated drum sections paired with the songs!! EPIC 🔥
Nicko post reunion has been amazing! Need to study that era.
Flight 666 era was wild drumming
He’s best playing was propably 2000-2008
Powerslave, LAD and SIT are sublime
@@garymitchell5899 plays better in rock in rio
They're all good but I prefer mid-80s
the entire somewhere in time album is a drumming encyclopedia. Nicko's finest drumming on this album.
He's a triplet. A triplet that taught me everything! An absolute inspiration...
You can hear the song with only his drums... Quite amazing !
Exactly! He's riffing alongside guitar parts.
One of the absolute best of all time!!!!!!
Also Do Clive Burr of Maiden
Yeh, You can hear the amazing durmming in hallowed be thy name, just to mention one song
Nicko is a force of nature, no question about that! I was just listening to Piece Of Mind earlier and thinking how he really was the star of that album. I mean the opening of the album just in itself, what an announcement!! Happy Birthday, Nicko! What ho sed de ting!
Nicko by far is in my top five favorite drummers of all time
I have heard that other drummers watched Niko drumming behind his kit during festivals, that is how they loved his style and that he used the while kit.
It always amazes me how different drums sound when they are isolated.
Love Nicko. Seeing Maiden this November!!!!
Always loved Nicko's drumming on The X Factor
The X factor is a good album and gets too much hate imo
@@Coconuthut1 its one of my favorites
@@Coconuthut1 TXF has grown on me over the years. I like how ballsy it is with its unrelenting bleak mood and 10 minute opener. Steve brought a new style with no apologies, which was the right thing to do with such a different singer.
@@emultra759 blaze’s voice fits the dark atmosphere really well
I'm a guitarist and Nicko's work is what made me love drums, and I'm dreaming of learning to play one day (too little time and money though xD).
His playing just always had the melody. Btw. Always good to remember his work with Pat Travers Band.
And I think it's a real challenge to make drums sound so musical and fluid while keeping the rhythm perfectly.
Plus think about all of the small things he incorporates aside for setting the pace and mood. I mean, there was a piece of wood during ROTAM which simulated the creaking of the deck, the Japanese drums on Senjutsu, the gong played with a bow to make you hear the R101 crash in EOTC...
And I think Adrian once said that Nicko is an amazing funk drummer, which he unfortunately cannot show in Maiden.
Hope he lives long and continues to love what he's doing.
Happy birthday LEGEND
Awesome video thanks! Heard loads o stuff in there I'd not spotted before - and pretty sure he did all that with one bass pedal!? Would love to hear chorus of Madness tho - it's drums to that which made me love the song! And yes please do more of these!
NICKO IS THE BEST!! LOVE NICKO HAPPY BDAY NICKO!!!
Nicko is amazing. I'm surprised you did't share the world's introduction to Nic in Maiden. The very intro on the very first song on the very first Maiden album to feature his playing. And just to hammer home the point, they opened that first tour with the song. Where Eagles Dare. 10 seconds and you already knew Maiden had knocked it out of the park.
You should do a series of these for all the band members including the second one for Nicko, and even go back to the likes of Paul and Clive and how their sound shaped the early days of maiden
Somewhere in Time has his best performances imho
One of the best
I feel that at his peak Nicko was one of the best metal drummers around. For me his standout performances were in Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time (his best), then Seventh Son (which had a really nice drum production).
The loneliness of the long distance runner is pure drum madness and you didn't even mention this song ?!?!?
Great video. Thanks for this one.
I miss Clive !
Too good to be a metal drummer, and he himself doesn’t consider being one. Overqualified for Maiden, they alternated their approach to each and every song to revolve around his playing to this day. Recently turned 72, long live my good man!
I love Nicko, but I remember Dickinson saying that Clive was actually a better Maiden drummer I think he developed some of the key features of Maiden rhythm and Nicko elevated them for sure, I think Cilve had a better groove, Nicko has the technique imho.
I also prefer Clive.
Mcbrain is ultimately the best drunmer in heavy metal imo
Him and Scott Travis of priest.
What's the difference between heavy metal and rock
Lol absolutely not.
@holdtightadele801Absolutely not.7
Guys like Kollias, Krimh and many others would smash Nicko.
@@AlfPanemetal is more complex
I love listening to his performances on all the live albums as well. His parts are so well composed and performed with such panache that it even the most complicated parts sound simple. It’s like it takes no effort. I think listening to a song like Hallowed Be Thy Name is a great example of how he took Clive’s parts and recreated them to his own style. Each part is much more nuanced and meticulously crafted which ultimately fits the song better. I can’t say enough about the amazing sense of rhythm he brings to their sound. By far one of my favorite drummers in any genre. Happy birthday Nicko!!!
Caught Somewhere In Time is his best performance and Deja-Vu 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
We want the follow-up video, Nicko’s isolated parts from the ’90s!
He still is amazing
You can catch some early Nicko on the soundtrack to the movie Heavy Metal. 👍
His drumming on Pat Travers putting in straight is his best work period
My favorite 👍
He is great!
What about "Where Eagles Dare", the opening track off PIECE OF MIND which introduced us to Nicko?
My favorite drumming feom Nicko is on Piece of Mind! The pocket is there....
Nicko said that the most difficult song for him was Sign of the cross. In fact, amazing drumming. 👍🏼🤘🏻🇬🇧
Thanks for sharing.
Agree. He is the Best
He came to my high school in the USA on a drum tour in 1987 or 88 (before Seventh Son came out). He was mad somone robbed his van during unloading, but still was in a good enough mood to give us a good show. He's funny as hell and wicked with the sticks. He answered all our questions and personally signed photgraphs for anyone who waited after the show. A true gent!
The drum sound on fear of the dark though. My goto reference for drum sounds. Even within the full mix. Yummy…
No one beats Clive. Just listen to Phantom of the Opera from live at the rainbow 1980. Unreal.
Great drummer awesome right foot
I would love a 90s part of his drumming, espacially for Sign of the cross
I mean no disrespect to Nicko, but I've always thought maiden had more groove and sounded tighter with Clive.
I feel it's a similar thing with G&R and Steven/Matt, or even ACDC with Phil/Chris.
Definitely. Clive was also a more powerful, aggressive and energetic drummer.
The albums from that period are definitely better for me.
Happy Birthday to my favourite drummer in the world! 🤘🏻😎
Awesome drumming. That part from Trroper was fantastic. Thanks for sharing. Happy birthday, Nicko McBrain.
🔱🌻Slava Ukraini!
Amazing drummer
You remind me of a Steve Hughes standup routine, dude!
Somewhere in Scandinavia comparing ages...
"How old are you?"
_"36. How old are you, Steve?"_
"42."
_"Ah. You are the lucky one..."_
"How d'you work that out?"
_"You have had more time to listen to Iron Maiden!"_
My favorite drummer! Great video but no Where Eagles Dare? 😊
The live version of Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (Monsters of Rock festival, Donington, 1988), especially the part with solos is unbelievable.
Nicho brought the right atmospheres for each album from the technological ones of Somewhere in time to the almost prog/class rock ones of Seventh, in the same way Clive was an unrivaled genius in the first 3
For shure he is the most GROOVING metal drummer ever with the best drumsound, too! 😎💯🤟That`s why Maiden where always bit different, because of the groove. Also Clive Burr was like this!
Thanks for the information, Chris Benoit
Yes, he's a crucial piece in the rhythmic section of the best band in the world, that makes him one of the best!
Clive Burr.
Where did you get the masters from to isolate these???
I do not know if Nicko is the best, but certainly he is one of the BEST DRUMMERS OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL
He is ONE of the Best..
I'm kind of partial to Clive's drumming myself, but Nicko also is one of the greats for sure.
Clive was awesome - much more powerful, aggressive and energetic than Nicko.
Badass!
Llegaste un poquito tarde, Iron Maiden ya era bueno, y ya era conocido en todo el mundo en la etapa de Clive Burr.
I would REALLY love a 90s video of Nickos parts! Even more than the 80s. Suggestions for parts I would recommend:
- Brighter than a Thousand Suns
- Sign of the Cross
- Book of Souls
- Speed of Light (need more cowbell)
- The Talisman
- The Fallen Angel
- Montsegur
🤘🤘🤘
If there's one song that I can instatly recognize from the drum pattern that's Run to the Hills, and Nicko is not there.
But the drummer before Nicko was amazing !
One of my all time favourite drummers and such a cool guy
"A bloody octopus! 🐙🐙"
Happy Birthday Nicko!
every time i listen to can i play with madness i think as nicko as a doctor, because he knew bruce had a fever and the only prescription was...
yeah go ahead with nicko's drumming in the 90s and 2000s, there're some hidden jewels that are overlooked most of the time...
Nicko is much better playing live that on records. I don't know why. Love him :)
Black Bart Blues - it's a B-side but the drumming is insane - one of my faves definitely
Happy birthday 🥳 Nicko your an amazing drummer can't wait for the next studio album and tour stay healthy 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
He is very good indeed. I would have like double pedal to be completely satisfied.
I’ve been trying to figure out what does he do in Wasted Years for years
Love this video! Can we please here "Where Eagles Dare" isolated?
Nicko is amazing. To play with power *and* skill the way he does is rare.
As I said when news came out about his stroke, Nicko playing at 90% ability is better than most drummers at 100%.
Great Drummer !!! Piece of Mind & Powerslave are my favorite !!
......came here after hearing of his retirement! Up the irons!
You should also make the video about Nico's bands before Maiden
Will do! I wasn't sure which of the options is going to win so I already made all the necessary research for that episode ;)
@@MetalPilgrim Cool, I've always been very interested in to finding out what the music and with which bands Nico played👍👍
🤘GREAT VIDEO 📹 🤘...
A thousand likes on this video ❤️ My first drum hero and forever on of my absolute favorites.
Where Eagles Dare is one of his best! Surprised it wasn't shown ahead of, say, Flight of Icarus.