IRON MAIDEN's NICKO MCBRAIN On Why He Doesn't Play Double-Bass Drums: 'I'm Just A Lazy, Old-Fashioned Git'

Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain at last month's NAMM show in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked once again why he has steadfastly refused to incorporate a double-bass setup into his playing technique, McBrain said: "The way I grew up playing, being inspired by… I know Mooney [late THE WHO drummer Keith Moon] had two bass drums, but contrary to belief, he didn't use the left one. He only used it to mount a couple of tom-toms. [Laughs]

"I don't know. It was just old-school for me," he continued. "And I see these guys — Dave Lombardo and Thomas Lang and Terry Bozzio, just to name a few — these guys that are just masters. And the thing is it's another digit, if you like, it's another limb, and if you're gonna do it, you have to practice at it and go for it, and these guys have done that. And I'm just a lazy old-fashioned git that likes to play one bass drum. And that's my style; I've just stuck with that. And it's not that I don't care for double-bass-drum players — I think there's some wonderful players out there that really can… Derek Roddy, for crying out loud — all these guys, super fast. Master of blaster beats, or whatever they're called. It's beyond me. [Laughs]

"So, yeah, I do appreciate them. And the talent is amazing that these guys… how they play these double-bass parts. But I've just always been old-school. Not many of us left, you know."

McBrain last month announced the launch of his first drum store, Nicko McBrain's Drum One.

Located in Manchester, the retail capital of the North of England on the Trafford Park business estate, the store features Planet Paiste, the U.K.'s largest dedicated Paiste show space and the Sonorsphere where customers will find the biggest selection of Sonor products in the country. All major drum and percussion brands will be stocked.

Formerly Manchester Drum Centre, established since 1983, Drum One acquired the business on November 1, 2017 following the retirement of long term owner and operator Rob Pearson. The business continued to operate under the name Drum Centre until the formal launch of Drum One on January 25.

The project reunites Nicko with Craig Buckley, former GM at Premier Drums who is his partner in the business. Sam McGoran long-term manager at Drum Centre remains as sales manager and becomes a share holder in the business.

For more information, visit www.drumone.co.uk.