Mention Nicko McBrain and what immediately comes to mind is the drummer of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Nicko was born Michael Henry McBrain on June 5, 1954 in Hackney, East London, England. His moniker was derived from his nickname Nicky, based on his most loved stuffed toy named Nicholas The Bear. Keyboardist Billy Day introduced him as the Italian drummer Neeko during a meeting with a CBS Records manager, and since then, he has used it as stage name. McBrains musical influences came from his father, who loved trad-jazz, and the legendary drummer Joe Morello, with the Dave Brubeck jazz band. As a child, he used to pick up a pair of knives and start hitting the gas cooker, pretending he were Joe Morello. He finally got his proper drum kit when he was age twelve.
McBrains first band was called The 18th Fairfield Walk, a group that did covers of Beatles and Otis Redding singles. He then joined Wells Street Blues Band, but he ended up leaving. Before Iron Maiden, McBrain also played drums on guitarist/keyboardist Pat Travers albums. He joined the English rock band Streetwalkers from 1975 to 1976, and they were able to produce good albums, but there were no hit singles then. In the early 1980s, he made appearances with the three-piece band McKitty, and it was in the bands gig in Belgium that McBrain got to know Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris. He became a part of the famous French hard rock band Trust, and in Iron Maidens Number of the Beast world tour in 1982, Trust lent help to the band when McBrain dressed up to scare the audience before challenging Eddie, Iron Maidens mascot. McBrain stood in for drummer Clive Burr one night, and in December 1982, McBrain officially joined Iron Maiden after Burr left due to personal and tour schedule problems. He was just in time for the recording of the 1983 album Piece of Mind, regarded by many as one of the greatest Iron Maiden albums ever. He has been with Iron Maiden ever since, and has become known as Mad McBrain to Iron Maiden fans, for his incredibly entertaining stage personality, sometimes leaping shirtless from his drum stool to lead the cheers for the band.
McBrain is known for being able to play a variety of styles when drumming. What distinguished him from other drummers is that he does not use a double bass pedal, but rather uses a fast technique using a single pedal.
McBrain also wrote a few songs for the band. His first is on the single New Frontier, which came from their 2003 album, Dance of Death. He also claims to have written a single for A Matter of Life and Death, but it was unfortunately not included in the release.
McBrain uses Premier maple classic drums, Paiste cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth Signature Sticks, DW 5000 Accelerator pedal and a DW 5000 Hi-hat stand. He used to be a long-time endorser of Sonor drums but switched brands in the early 1990s.
Drew Mers is a consultant to Empire Rehearsal Studios, which rents aspiring bands, musicians and drummers music rehearsal studios in Long Island City, Queens, New York - about 10 minutes from midtown Manhattan and consultant to City Closet Storage, one of the largest New York self storage companies.
