Fozzie
Nomad
Yeah i agree on ID , but not sure about the other deep cuts. No Killers, Phantom, Powerslave just doesn`t add up to better to me. Imagine the meltdown on here too if Maiden only played 10 songs!
Nicko McBrain
- Thread starter Forostar
- Start date
Yax
Ancient Mariner
That's not a relevant argument though. This is a for-fun gig, not an Iron Maiden concert.
Yax
Ancient Mariner
Valid point! And for the record, I think Maiden's set is awesome and I think Nicko's set is awesome.
Starblind
Ancient Mariner
well to start with, of course it's a funny comparison (from me) 
but i mean: Nicko's approach here is much cooler. for example choosing parchment (he tells that it's his favorite song from senjutsu) (then how come it didn't get in the 7 songs they played from that album?). or 'no more lies' which havent been played since the first leg of final frontier...
to sum it all: deep cuts, hidden gems work more for me than the usual hits which i heard before from Maiden many times, and all the time in bars and from cover bands etc.
and again: infinite dreams!
but i mean: Nicko's approach here is much cooler. for example choosing parchment (he tells that it's his favorite song from senjutsu) (then how come it didn't get in the 7 songs they played from that album?). or 'no more lies' which havent been played since the first leg of final frontier...to sum it all: deep cuts, hidden gems work more for me than the usual hits which i heard before from Maiden many times, and all the time in bars and from cover bands etc.
and again: infinite dreams!
Fozzie
Nomad
Each to their own , i like the Parchment but if i`m choosing that or Hell On Earth i would personally choose HOE so i`m pretty happy we got it in 23/24.well to start with, of course it's a funny comparison (from me)
to sum it all: deep cuts, hidden gems work more for me than the usual hits which i heard before from Maiden many times, and all the time in bars and from cover bands etc.
and again: infinite dreams!
Starblind
Ancient Mariner
of course i would choose HOE too. but i would also choose Parchment over Death of the Celts for sure! That song killed the mood for 10 minutes on each show I saw. I dont get Maiden, they made great songs with middle east vibes like Nomad and Parchment but then don't play them! + To Tame a Land (only one tour) and of course Alexander (absent till Future Past)... Only Powerslave is an exception.Each to their own , i like the Parchment but if i`m choosing that or Hell On Earth i would personally choose HOE so i`m pretty happy we got it in 23/24.
Fozzie
Nomad
I would have chosen it over Celts too to be fair. TTAL is still one i hope to see live, unlikely now i guess.
Iron Lurker
Apologist Maidentard
Again apples and oranges. If Maiden were to do a fun for them set instead of formulating a setlist to appeal to the masses (for a classics/hits tour) it would be just as varied as Nicko's.
-- A Message From Your Friendly Neighborhood Apologist Maidentard.
-- A Message From Your Friendly Neighborhood Apologist Maidentard.
2M2M
Educated Fool
For example, Steve would do a medley of all his bass-only intros and then yell football chants into the microphone, followed by Adrian just playing half of the Wasted Years riff and then letting the E & B strings ring out.
(written with love & admiration of my two favourite musicians)
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
You could say that, but I don't think it's fair to compare a cover band with no theme to the setlists and Maiden now (their set is almost perfect for its theme, tbh, so appealing?). And both setlists have 4-5 deep cuts (imo), so it's not far off. Plus, his set is mostly mid-tempo songs.
Since we heard that Nicko does a great job with Parchment, it's curious he didn't push for it, at least for the 2nd leg. He is feeling better now? It is a fan favorite after all. Bruce was probably the deciding factor and chose Celts, maybe because of the vocals in the intro and the overall more lively tempo. Or because of the backdrop?
Good call. Maybe because all of them have something unique (to say) in them.
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BludBrutha
Ancient Mariner
Nicko on Eddie Trunk podcast, episode just went up.
onurb
Ancient Mariner
And their drums sound better than IM. LOL
ProwlerInTheRueMorgue
Prowler
Don't know if this is going to ruffle some feathers in the tightly knit Maiden-camp with his comment on Bruce's timing and the usage of screens:
blabbermouth.net
IRON MAIDEN Drummer NICKO MCBRAIN: 'There's No One That Can Replace Me'
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain played the last of four July 2025 shows in Florida with his TITANIUM TART project on Saturday (July 26) at OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Joining Nicko in TITANIUM TART are Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne...
blabbermouth.net
Helmuth Von Moltke
Ancient Mariner
Nicko is not wrong about Bruce’s timing (at least at the start of the tour). Screens are a matter of opinion, and many share his.Don't know if this is going to ruffle some feathers in the tightly knit Maiden-camp with his comment on Bruce's timing and the usage of screens:
IRON MAIDEN Drummer NICKO MCBRAIN: 'There's No One That Can Replace Me'
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain played the last of four July 2025 shows in Florida with his TITANIUM TART project on Saturday (July 26) at OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Joining Nicko in TITANIUM TART are Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne...
matic22
Ancient Mariner
I think this was just another case of Nicko's tongue-in-cheek ranting. It looks like he is trying to ruffle some feathers in Maiden camp in text form.
That said, my friend, who is a drummer, is a bit pissed off with Simon. In his words, he didn't pay enough attention to details and is playing the songs very basic. And I kinda agree.
That said, my friend, who is a drummer, is a bit pissed off with Simon. In his words, he didn't pay enough attention to details and is playing the songs very basic. And I kinda agree.
BludBrutha
Ancient Mariner
Totally agree with him. Nicko is no apologist MaidenTard.
Iron Lurker
Apologist Maidentard
The drapes and props are great but they would be hard pressed to top LOTB. Changing physical sets take time and interrupt the flow of the show. I like the screens, you don't have that problem with them. Plus you can do so much more with the screens.
Kalata
Out of the Silent Planet
Hmm... Nicko likes to joke, we all know that, but I feel his recent comments about everything around the band are not completely jokes to say. He's right, he's irreplaceable, but it's not cool to talk about Bruce's timing issues (which are less this current tour), Bruce needs to fix them, no doubt, but it's just not cool, the band supported him during TFP tour.Don't know if this is going to ruffle some feathers in the tightly knit Maiden-camp with his comment on Bruce's timing and the usage of screens:
IRON MAIDEN Drummer NICKO MCBRAIN: 'There's No One That Can Replace Me'
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain played the last of four July 2025 shows in Florida with his TITANIUM TART project on Saturday (July 26) at OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. Joining Nicko in TITANIUM TART are Rob Stokes on bass, Eldad Kira on keyboards, Mike Rivera and Mitch Tanne...
About the stage, it seems he wanted the 2 side screens along with the backdrops, but Rod is right, they needed something special for this anniv and with the screens there are possibilities for more interesting stuff, plus it's easier for everyone. He said he is old school and not wanting changes. He even suggested using 2 backdrops for one song when he first saw the sketches for the tour.