How will Simon Dawson change the look and sound of Maiden?

[07-SMS:A1L]

I was thinking about this the other night. The change from Clive to Nicko had quite an impact on the sound. On Rock in Rio, the live renditions of tracks from Iron Maiden (Iron Maiden, Sanctuary), Killers (Wrathchild), and The Number of the Beast (The Number of the Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run to the Hills) showcased a striking difference from how Clive Burr had originally recorded them. Do you think Simon is told to play the songs like Nicko, or will he be free to play them closer to his own style? Also visually, do you think he will play a bigger kit or stick to his British Lion kit?

 

[Brigantium]

I'm going to guess he'll try to play as close as possible to the original studio performances of tracks featured in the upcoming tour.

He's not just standing in for Nicko when or comes to 80s Maiden material

 

[07-SMS:A1L]

I'm going to guess he'll try to play as close as possible to the original studio performances of tracks featured in the upcoming tour.

So maybe somewhat more similar to Clive for the first three albums? I'd hate to have a Tommy Thayer situation seeing Iron Maiden this summer. One of my friends whom I'm attending the Stockholm gig with said he'd prefer "if they put Simon backstage next to Brent Diamond".

 

[Ruflux]

I'm going to guess he'll try to play as close as possible to the original studio performances of tracks featured in the upcoming tour.

He's not just standing in for Nicko when or comes to 80s Maiden material

I'm going to cast heavy doubt on that guess, because Steve's been playing to Nicko's versions of those songs for 40 years now. I doubt he wants to relearn Hallowed for example.

 

[07-SMS:A1L]

I'm going to cast heavy doubt on that guess, because Steve's been playing to Nicko's versions of those songs for 40 years now. I doubt he wants to relearn Hallowed for example.

Hallowed by thy Name (The Outfield version)

 

[onurb]

He is a solid drummer. I obv dont know how it will sound but i blv he will sort the things out.

 

[Kalata]

Each drummer brings his own feel to the playing and the songs, even a little, so I think he'll play them like Nicko, generally close to the originals (I doubt he'll be told though). Clive's songs, same or?

The look and size of the kit, I'm not sure, but it won't be the BL kit, methinks. Something bigger. With Eddies? Dunno.

He's a solid drummer, so the band should sound good-great. Rejuvenated? We'll see, but why not. And he has a chemistry with Steve. I just don't know what would happen if he sped up some songs and the reaction of Bruce and Adrian..

 

[CA Bryers]

My guess agrees with the general consensus here: play as close to the recordings as possible. At present, he's just the live fill-in drummer, after all, not a member who has the clout to come in and start changing things up to suit his style. But, he's also Steve's buddy, so...I guess anything's possible.

 

[BludBrutha]

They’re in the twilight of their career. He’s there to STFU and play the songs as close to Nicko as possible. Totally different situation to Nicko replacing Clive.

 

[Mosh]

With that said, I will be curious if he plays the Clive songs closer to Clive or closer to the McBrain versions. I assume he may be given specific instructions about this. RTTH and Phantom in particular are songs that changed feel quite a bit compared to the studio versions.

 

[07-SMS:A1L]

They’re in the twilight of their career. He’s there to STFU and play the songs as close to Nicko as possible. Totally different situation to Nicko replacing Clive.

To be fair, Nicko had very little influence on the creative direction of Maiden. Blaze and Clive, despite their shorter tenures, had more input. Even the members from 1975-1979 had a greater role in shaping the band's direction. Simon, as a touring member, has no say in the band’s decisions, but it was clear that Maiden never really adjusted to Nicko’s condition in 2023 and 2024. This became very noticeable throughout most of the tour and it wasn't exactly a shock to learn that Nicko was going to retire from the band before next years tour.

 

[Kalata]

They’re in the twilight of their career. He’s there to STFU and play the songs as close to Nicko as possible. Totally different situation to Nicko replacing Clive.

Yeah, and he's just a live member (for now), but you shouldn't expect a drummer not to have his own stamp on the songs, even a little. It's not about the stage of their career, Nicko plays differently than Clive and that's never been a problem for the band.

With that said, I will be curious if he plays the Clive songs closer to Clive or closer to the McBrain versions. I assume he may be given specific instructions about this. RTTH and Phantom in particular are songs that changed feel quite a bit compared to the studio versions.

I guess he could have freedom with Clive's songs? Steve will probably have a say, he will prefer Nicko's style I assume. I think Simon will play RTTH like Nicko, but Phantom faster like Clive. Nicko changed the feel of these songs, but not that much. I guess the same will be with Simon. Maybe some parts. Steve has never chosen a ''copy'' so far.

To be fair, Nicko had very little influence on the creative direction of Maiden. Blaze and Clive, despite their shorter tenures, had more input. Even the members from 1975-1979 had a greater role in shaping the band's direction. Simon, as a touring member, has no say in the band’s decisions, but it was clear that Maiden never really adjusted to Nicko’s condition in 2023 and 2024. This became very noticeable throughout most of the tour and it wasn't exactly a shock to learn that Nicko was going to retire from the band before next years tour.

Nicko had very little influence on the creative direction of Maiden - wow! Songwriting wise, yes, but he allowed the band to evolve, big time. They never really adjusted to his 2023/2024 playing, what? Everyone did what they could.

 

[Perun]

I don't know the answer to the original question, I just know Maiden won't be the same. And I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I'm accepting this development, and I know things will be great with Simon on the drums. But it will never be the way it was with Nicko.

 

[07-SMS:A1L]

They never really adjusted to his 2023/2024 playing, what? Everyone did what they could.

It would probably have been better to drop Caught Somewhere in Time and The Trooper to begin with. If Simon came in before 2024 we could have had a live album from the Future Past Tour.

but he allowed the band to evolve, big time.

I’m not sure, man—this part of your sentence sounds like total mumbo jumbo to me. Maiden did just fine with Clive. That change wouldn’t have been necessary if Clive had been up for it. Di'Anno to Dickinson, now that is a band evolving!

Nicko had very little influence on the creative direction of Maiden - wow!

Well... yeah? One song in 42 years

 

[dickinson1978]

I would like to see the drum kit. It will be weird if he uses a small drumkit

 

[CA Bryers]

They never really adjusted to his 2023/2024 playing, what? Everyone did what they could.

True. There's the Nicko interview from last year talking about how Steve more or less bent over backward to accommodate him--offering to drop songs he couldn't do anymore and telling Nicko to simplify his playing as he saw fit.

 

[TaaviMaiden]

... but it was clear that Maiden never really adjusted to Nicko’s condition in 2023 and 2024. This became very noticeable throughout most of the tour and it wasn't exactly a shock to learn that Nicko was going to retire from the band before next years tour.

Maybe it had nothing to do with Nicko (or the rest of the band). Maybe his doctors predicted that Nicko would get much better and everyone believed it, but it wasn't true.

 

[onurb]

I would like to see the drum kit. It will be weird if he uses a small drumkit

Drumkit is not the problem.

 

[naranja]

I would like to see the drum kit. It will be weird if he uses a small drumkit

No he should play whatever kit fits him. Not have a giant one for the sake of it but not use 90% of it

 

[Kalata]

I don't know the answer to the original question, I just know Maiden won't be the same. And I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I'm accepting this development, and I know things will be great with Simon on the drums. But it will never be the way it was with Nicko.

This.

It would probably have been better to drop Caught Somewhere in Time and The Trooper to begin with. If Simon came in before 2024 we could have had a live album from the Future Past Tour.
I’m not sure, man—this part of your sentence sounds like total mumbo jumbo to me. Maiden did just fine with Clive. That change wouldn’t have been necessary if Clive had been up for it. Di'Anno to Dickinson, now that is a band evolving!

They dropped Hallowed. CSIT probably wasn't that hard for Nicko, first song, without some fast fills... And they needed to play more shows, he believed he would improve in 2024. We could still get a live album.
Nicko's style allowed for that.

Drumkit is not the problem.

He can play the songs in a small kit, I think it's more of a visualize thing.

No he should play whatever kit fits him. Not have a giant one for the sake of it but not use 90% of it

Not use 90% of it for Maiden songs? Thinking of Hallowed. I want to see a big drum kit ofc (part of the stage design after all), but I guess the drummer will have his say. A medium one like Bruce's Dave Moreno?