As we have already informed, Iron Maiden sticksman Nicko McBrain suffered a stroke in January 2023.
Photo: John McMurtrie
Giving a speech at his side-project Titanium Tarts’ show in Pompano Beach, Florida, McBrain talked about how the illness has affected his performance as a drummer:
“I’ve gotta be honest with you. It was a touch and go last year for me. I couldn’t play. I was paralyzed on the right side. Fortunately, there’s a girl called Julie Blum that looked after me, and in three months, she had me playing again. It ain’t the old Nicko, it’s not the old one by a long shot. But at least it’s part of me. And my band, bless their hearts, Steve Harris and the rest of the guys turn around and say, ‘If you can’t do something in a song, we just won’t do that song.‘”
McBrain also explained on the example of the “Caught Somewhere in Time” track (from 1986’s “Somewhere in Time” album) how ha and Iron Maiden have had to adjust:
“Now, there’s a middle section. It’s all snare drum on the record. I can’t play it. Those of you nerds that are in the audience go, ‘He didn’t do the drum fill!’ Well, that’s why – I f#&king can’t do it!” Steve [Harris, Iron Maiden’s bass player and leader] turned around to me and I said, ‘Okay, I’ve got an idea. If I do the double on the snare…’ and I played it for him and he went, ‘No. Have you got anything else?’ I went, ‘Yeah, I’ll play it on the cymbal.’ ‘No. You got anything else?” That’s me spent, mate.’ He thought about it for about half a minute, and he’s going, ‘Why don’t you play it straight?’ I went, ‘You’re a f#&king genius, Harry!’ And there’s me, the drummer, supposedly. Supposed to come up with all these ideas. I didn’t even think of that. And so we rehearsed it from there on in, and we play it straight, which I’m sure 90% of you don’t give a f#&k about that bit anyway!“
