RUN FOR YOUR LIVES 2026

[Black Abyss Babe]

As someone who has studied musicology to degree level, I can prove this on a fucking etch-a-sketch.

Compare the studio or Maiden England version of Infinite Dreams with the latest rendition.

No contest. Dawson is not an adequate replacement.

Watch the two clips I mentioned, then tell me they’re both exactly as good as each other.

Sigh.

In the two clips, you will notice that Nicko is playing the song at a certain tempo. Dawson does not match this. You’ll also notice that Nicko, in every single bar, is utilising his skill to accent certain elements of the pattern. He’s inserting flourishes and finesse in every bar, to create interest, to avoid boring repetition, using dexterity and grace.

God what am I doing. If you can’t hear it then I can’t help you. It is beyond question.

Sorry. You haven’t a fucking clue what you’re talking about. One day, I hope and pray, Iron Maiden will make good on their legacy and get a drummer worthy of their sound.

Great, another armchair expert trying to pass off their own personal opinion/taste as objectively-substantiable fact.

Music is not a science, it is an art. It is not fixed. It grows, lives, breathes, develops. It does not stay the same. It is subjective. It is personal.

Welcome to my ignore list - I hope you find the company congenial ...

 

[Kurt Barlow]

While as I said in the other thread, partly share your view, I don't think there's any ground to criticize Dawson for the tempos. While he's the drummer, he probably isn't the one deciding the tempo. They have probably decided the tempos for the songs during the rehearsals, and they could be keeping tempos down to help Bruce out, or Steve, or the guitarists for that matter. I don't think Steve would hire a drummer who's technical ability and stamina would limit them in that capacity that they would be forced to play slower than the other guys would want.

He's the hired gun. He'll play the tempo he's told.

I admire your diplomacy. Refreshing, given the flippancy of the other chap.

Tempo - it’s on the drummer. There’s no click track. There’s no way anyone in the band would say ‘please play the songs slower and shittier than Nicko/Clive’.

 

[Vaenyr]

I dunno, if you watched the 2 clips you'd easily notice a difference, degree or no. It's the importance of the difference that's the subjective issue.

Almost as if there's literal decades between the versions? Go compare the studio version of CSIT with the live version from 2023. Or go compare Fear Of The Dark on Rock in Rio to FOTD in 2018, 2022, or 2023. Obviously there will be differences. Simon, regardless of how someone feels about his playing style, is not responsible for the tempos. He is playing the tempo that his bosses tasked him to.

Sigh.

In the two clips, you will notice that Nicko is playing the song at a certain tempo. Dawson does not match this. You’ll also notice that Nicko, in every single bar, is utilising his skill to accent certain elements of the pattern. He’s inserting flourishes and finesse in every bar, to create interest, to avoid boring repetition, using dexterity and grace.

God what am I doing. If you can’t hear it then I can’t help you. It is beyond question.

Sorry. You haven’t a fucking clue what you’re talking about. One day, I hope and pray, Iron Maiden will make good on their legacy and get a drummer worthy of their sound.

I never said that there is no difference between their playing. I'm disputing the claim that Simon's responsible for the tempo. He isn't. The tempos were already changed when Nicko was still with the band. You can't blame Simon for something he had no say in.

I admire your diplomacy. Refreshing, given the flippancy of the other chap.

Tempo - it’s on the drummer. There’s no click track. There’s no way anyone in the band would say ‘please play the songs slower and shittier than Nicko/Clive’.

Are you aware that Nicko was using a visual click for the last decade? The tempos aren't as free as they used to be. Simon's literally just doing his job, he doesn't get to dictate the tempo.

 

[Yax]

I admire your diplomacy. Refreshing, given the flippancy of the other chap.

Tempo - it’s on the drummer. There’s no click track. There’s no way anyone in the band would say ‘please play the songs slower and shittier than Nicko/Clive’.

They are old farts, who all probably have some level of arthritis in their fingers. It's reasonable to assume they have decided on a tempo even without playing to a click. We've seen Nicko use a count-down metronome for him to start some songs at the proper tempo. Simon and the gang could, for instance get a count down in the in ears from the monitor tech.

 

[Kurt Barlow]

They are old farts, who all probably have some level of arthritis in their fingers. It's reasonable to assume they have decided on a tempo even without playing to a click. We've seen Nicko use a count-down metronome for him to start some songs at the proper tempo. Simon and the gang could, for instance get a count down in the in ears from the monitor tech.

The light/visual click is a way to start the song, but once the song starts, it’s just not possible to lock into something like that. Given the number of time changes in say, Infinite Dreams or Fear Of The Dark, it’s entirely up to the drummer to guide the band, in the absence of a click track.

 

[Kurt Barlow]

While as I said in the other thread, partly share your view, I don't think there's any ground to criticize Dawson for the tempos. While he's the drummer, he probably isn't the one deciding the tempo. They have probably decided the tempos for the songs during the rehearsals, and they could be keeping tempos down to help Bruce out, or Steve, or the guitarists for that matter. I don't think Steve would hire a drummer whose technical ability and stamina would limit them in that capacity that they would be forced to play slower than the other guys would want.

He's the hired gun. He'll play the tempo he's told.

His technical ability is the clear and obvious issue here. He is not as good as Nicko or Clive. We can dance around this as much as want. It’s just a fact. A/B any single song. It’s obvious.

 

[Yax]

His technical ability is the clear and obvious issue here. He is not as good as Nicko or Clive. We can dance around this as much as want. It’s just a fact. A/B any single song. It’s obvious.

I agree he isn’t - much I think is due to style and feel though, with him being stiff rather than loose and Keith Moon-ish like Nicko, but he can play the songs well enough to land the gig. I would prefer a Drummer closer to Nicko, but it is what it is. Simon isn’t bad, but I don’t think he is of the right caliber. But Steve will play with who he wants, and we have to take it or leave it.

 

[Kurt Barlow]

I agree he isn’t - much I think is due to style and feel though, with him being stiff rather than loose and Keith Moon-ish like Nicko, but he can play the songs well enough to land the gig. I would prefer a Drummer closer to Nicko, but it is what it is. Simon isn’t bad, but I don’t think he is of the right caliber. But Steve will play with who he wants, and we have to take it or leave it.

Indeed, and I’ve chosen to not see the band on any of the UK shows with Dawson. I find the band sounding tired and boring. This is entirely down to the drummer.

Anyone ever hear Nirvana before they got Dave Grohl? That’s the kind of gear shift we’re talking here.

 

[Iron Lurker]

Great, another armchair expert trying to pass off their own personal opinion/taste as objectively-substantiable fact.

Music is not a science, it is an art. It is not fixed. It grows, lives, breathes, develops. It does not stay the same. It is subjective. It is personal.

Welcome to my ignore list - I hope you find the company congenial ...

I just put him on ignore as well

 

[GhostofCain]

I agree he isn’t - much I think is due to style and feel though, with him being stiff rather than loose and Keith Moon-ish like Nicko, but he can play the songs well enough to land the gig. I would prefer a Drummer closer to Nicko, but it is what it is. Simon isn’t bad, but I don’t think he is of the right caliber. But Steve will play with who he wants, and we have to take it or leave it.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[CA Bryers]

One day, I hope and pray, Iron Maiden will make good on their legacy and get a drummer worthy of their sound.

Exactly how many more years do you think these guys who are ALL at retirement age plan on recording and touring? It would be one thing to bang this drum for a band in their collective thirties. Steve is the boss, and at this VERY LATE stage in their career, he's prioritized having a drummer he can get along with and who can do the shows. If he wanted someone potentially as good as Nicko, Joe Lazarus was one phone call away.

Here's the thing: there are a lot of decisions the band has made that people in this forum don't like. We all understand our discussions will effect NO change within the band. So far, it seems like you've joined the forum to do nothing but bitch about Simon, and you won't be happy until every last one of us agrees with you. Not gonna happen. Most of us live in reality--we know the band doesn't always pick the best candidates. We accept that it's not ideal, make a comment here and there but move on, and our lives are no worse for it. So like @Vaenyr said: go outside and touch some grass.

On top of that, your argument has a hole you could drive a bus through. You talk about tempo, yet Nicko had been known for his tempo being all over the place, often increasing mid-song. He's always been known for going too fast. And when you're telling people to watch two videos, you're telling them to watch a video of Maiden in their performing prime, and a Maiden in their twilight years. You've had several people bring up Bruce's timing issues, voice straining, Steve bungling here and there, yet you ignore them all. No demands that Bruce or Steve be axed, but by god if Simon isn't playing as fast as you want it played, off with his head.

 

[Vaenyr]

Just put a metronome on and listen to the studio version of The Wicker Man. Nicko increases the pace more and more from the intro up to the first chorus. He has always varied tempos a lot. If we want to frame this as a positive we can say that he fed off the energy and drove the band with intensity and power. If we want to frame this as a negative we can say that he is wildly inconsistent and fails to keep the required tempo.

 

[Azas]

Man, don't touch any grass! At best, it might be something like poison ivy. At worst, you'll end up a drug addict.

 

[Kurt Barlow]

Exactly how many more years do you think these guys who are ALL at retirement age plan on recording and touring? It would be one thing to bang this drum for a band in their collective thirties. Steve is the boss, and at this VERY LATE stage in their career, he's prioritized having a drummer he can get along with and who can do the shows. If he wanted someone potentially as good as Nicko, Joe Lazarus was one phone call away.

Here's the thing: there are a lot of decisions the band has made that people in this forum don't like. We all understand our discussions will effect NO change within the band. So far, it seems like you've joined the forum to do nothing but bitch about Simon, and you won't be happy until every last one of us agrees with you. Not gonna happen. Most of us live in reality--we know the band doesn't always pick the best candidates. We accept that it's not ideal, make a comment here and there but move on, and our lives are no worse for it. So like @Vaenyr said: go outside and touch some grass.

On top of that, your argument has a hole you could drive a bus through. You talk about tempo, yet Nicko had been known for his tempo being all over the place, often increasing mid-song. He's always been known for going too fast. And when you're telling people to watch two videos, you're telling them to watch a video of Maiden in their performing prime, and a Maiden in their twilight years. You've had several people bring up Bruce's timing issues, voice straining, Steve bungling here and there, yet you ignore them all. No demands that Bruce or Steve be axed, but by god if Simon isn't playing as fast as you want it played, off with his head.

Dickinson, Smith, McBrain and Harris have all demonstrated exactly what their strengths and shortcomings are. Mistakes are expected, and welcomed. I hate gridded metal as much as anyone.

What we’re talking about here is a player who is not world class.

Rush got a drummer who CAN REPLICATE NEIL PEART. No easy task, but those players are out there.

Harris picked his mate out of his pub rock band. He’s not up to it.

Why do I care? Maiden means as much to me as it does to you. I was there, August 20th 1988, wondering if life could ever get any better. Maiden is more than a band. We all agree on that. So I reserve the right to complain when they make a very bad call.

 

[Lego]

Dickinson, Smith, McBrain and Harris have all demonstrated exactly what their strengths and shortcomings are. Mistakes are expected, and welcomed. I hate gridded metal as much as anyone.

What we’re talking about here is a player who is not world class.

Rush got a drummer who CAN REPLICATE NEIL PEART. No easy task, but those players are out there.

Harris picked his mate out of his pub rock band. He’s not up to it.

Why do I care? Maiden means as much to me as it does to you. I was there, August 20th 1988, wondering if life could ever get any better. Maiden is more than a band. We all agree on that. So I reserve the right to complain when they make a very bad call.

Not only can Anika replicate Neil, but she goes beyond - adding her own powerful, youthful precision to the drum parts that clearly rubs off on the rest of the band. She takes her role as the keeper of Neil's legacy VERY seriously and it shows in just how prepared she is.

The cheers when she nails the fills in Tom Sawyer are deafening. When Simon "Hawai'i 5-0s" his way through Nicko's syncopated fills in after the solos in Powerslave? Nope.

Clive was an upgrade from Doug... Nicko was an upgrade from Clive... but Simon? He's just "good enough." It saddens me to imagine what Maiden could have sounded like with a young professional at the top of their game behind the kit...

 

[Kurt Barlow]

Not only can Anika replicate Neil, but she goes beyond - adding her own powerful, youthful precision to the drum parts that clearly rubs off on the rest of the band. She takes her role as the keeper of Neil's legacy VERY seriously and it shows in just how prepared she is.

The cheers when she nails the fills in Tom Sawyer are deafening. When Simon "Hawai'i 5-0s" his way through Nicko's syncopated fills in after the solos in Powerslave? Nope.

Clive was an upgrade from Doug... Nicko was an upgrade from Clive... but Simon? He's just "good enough." It saddens me to imagine what Maiden could have sounded like with a young professional at the top of their game behind the kit...

100%

Maiden has to end in the coming years. They always swore they’d quit before they started looking like the Stones. But they sound more pedestrian than the Stones have in recent years. They just sound boring.

A gifted younger drummer could’ve seen them in their twilight years sound more vital and contemporary than ever. Sure, we’re all bringing our kids to see the band, but none of us - NOT FUCKING ONE - can say they sound just as good with Dawson as they ever did with Clive or Nicko. That’s on him.

It’s not even his fault. He should never have been hired.

 

[Cat Milk Supreme]

Almost as if there's literal decades between the versions? Go compare the studio version of CSIT with the live version from 2023. Or go compare Fear Of The Dark on Rock in Rio to FOTD in 2018, 2022, or 2023. Obviously there will be differences. Simon, regardless of how someone feels about his playing style, is not responsible for the tempos. He is playing the tempo that his bosses tasked him to.

Well yeah, of course there's differences. The point of the discussion is people's opinion and tolerance of the differences. People criticised them for slowing down when Nicko was still around and they're critising the new drummer now. It's valid.

I've not mentioned tempos, it's the feel and the transitions that detract from the overall song, for me. And like I said, it's fleeting, I get over it quick. But it's there. It's way, way better than no Maiden and for my money they're still the best live band around. But then I've not seen Tay Tay. Yet.