Nicko McBrain

Nicko McBrain

Nicko McBrain is a British heavy metal drummer from Hackney, London. Born Michael Henry McBrain in 1952, he is best known as the drummer for Iron Maiden, a role he takes on from 1983 and continues to hold. Before joining Iron Maiden, he plays with a number of other acts, including Cockerel Chorus, Gordon Giltrap, Streetwalkers, Pat Travers, Jenny Darren, Trust and McKitty.

Early work and stage name

McBrain’s nickname comes from childhood: he has a stuffed animal called “Nicholas the bear”, which he carries around everywhere, and his parents call him “Nicky”. The name “Nicko” emerges later when Billy Day introduces him to a CBS Records manager as “my Italian drummer”, giving his name as “Neeko”. McBrain likes the name and adopts it as a stage name, with a slightly altered spelling.

Before Iron Maiden

His pre-Iron Maiden recordings include work on Nice One Cyril with Cockerel Chorus in 1973, Giltrap with Gordon Giltrap in 1973, Downtown Flyers with Streetwalkers in 1975, Red Card with Streetwalkers in 1976, Makin' Magic and Putting It Straight with Pat Travers in 1977, and Jenny Darren’s self-titled album in 1980. He also appears on Trust’s Marche ou Crève and the English-language version of Savage in 1981. In the early 1980s he also plays with McKitty, and it is at a McKitty gig in Belgium that he first meets Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris.

Iron Maiden

McBrain joins Iron Maiden in 1983 for Piece of Mind, replacing Clive Burr after Trust have supported Iron Maiden on tour in 1982. He remains with the band across its later studio albums, including Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, No Prayer for the Dying, Fear of the Dark, The X Factor, Virtual XI, Brave New World, Dance of Death, A Matter of Life and Death, The Final Frontier, The Book of Souls and Senjutsu.

On Dance of Death in 2003, he records with a double bass drum for the first and last time on “Face in the Sand”. He later says the part is one of the hardest things he has played, and the song is not included in the Dance of Death World Tour setlist. That album also marks the first time in Iron Maiden’s history that he contributes to songwriting, writing the bass line for “New Frontier”.

Other projects and appearances

In 1991 McBrain releases Rhythms of the Beast, an instructional drum video. In 2011 he appears on “Out of My Mind” for the charity project WhoCares, a collaboration involving Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan and continuing the Rock Aid Armenia project. He also appears in the band The Full Metal Rackets and is associated with Voices of Extreme, which he manages.

Style, equipment and activities

McBrain is regarded as a major influence on many modern drummers. He regularly holds drum clinics and continues to play live outside Iron Maiden during band downtime, including with his McBrain Damage band. Unlike many heavy metal drummers, he does not use a double bass drum pedal in his regular playing, preferring a fast single-pedal technique. He uses Premier drums and Paiste cymbals, and he is a long-time former endorser of Sonor drums before switching brands in the late 1990s.

Personal life and interests

McBrain converts to Christianity in the mid-2000s after an experience at the Spanish River Church near his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Outside music, he is a keen golfer. He also keeps diaries and short videos for Iron Maiden fans on the band’s official website, where he is known for an informal, humorous tone and frequent messages of thanks to supporters.