Nicko McBrain

Zare said:
That interview is what triggered this discussion?

There is nothing in there apart their inability to properly respond to provocations, as already concluded. What they did say is that they would have no problems with gay member and that Harris doesn't judge people by race or nationality.
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Steve's comments about race integration not being possible were pretty disgraceful if you ask me. My workplace is an example of how wrong he was...
 
Black Bart said:
What exemplifies the evolution of the media (and their speed and influence) pretty well is that they alluded to Rob Halford being gay as early as 1982 and nobody outside the milieu heard about it (from Rob himself by the way) until ten years later or so.
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I remember the shock of some homophobic Judas Priest fans when Rob said he was gay (similar to the shock of some homophobic Queen fans after Freddie's death and the confirmation of him being gay). I had two thoughts:

1. How can you be so bigoted?
2. How could you not have noticed?
 
Am I the only person to realise that a lot of water has flown under the bridge since 1982? This was before I was born. Can somebody honestly please explain to me why I should care for some random interview some random person did back then and how it should affect my appreciation for Maiden's music today?
 
The fact that some of you were not born at the time is not relevant: this is the same Steve Harris as the one who leads Maiden now and the implicit question, for some people, is: would this guy still express himself the same way now? Certainly, this has nothing to do with is music: him being the worst antisemistic/racist wouldn't change a single note to his great songs. But this would annoy/bother some, mostly those who have reasons to be offended by such statements.
 
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Yeah, I'm hoping his horizons expanded considerably when he left behind the place he grew up. If Steve was still a massive bigot, I can't imagine some hint of that not coming out in his music or behaviour. Or at the very least, he wouldn't be happy with the likes of Bruce preaching togetherness in live performances of Blood Brothers.

I'm still not convinced that Age of Innocence is evidence of Steve being a steaming far right nutball. That was made in a era of populist paedo-panic, and tabloid headlines of the day were dripping with the sentiments expressed in that song. The album has a thread running through it of hindsight, and judging the past and the present: how will we see today's sentiments in retrospect?
 
GhostofCain said:
Well, it certainly beats the integration I have seen in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy or Spain, to mention some examples of countries I know well. Furthermore, it is much easier to become a Brit than to become a German, a Spaniard, or a Dutch.

On a related note, the moment you meet people that are in favour of Brexit and have no problems with foreigners you realise that it is not all about immigration. I know what I am talking about, as technically I was a foreigner in the UK until recently. ;)
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You are not talking about integration. You talk about changing nationality. Can be done while still living a very segregated life.
 
Welsh Phantom said:
Don't forget that the Brexit vote was only won by 51.9%.

Nearly HALF the country wished to remain in Europe.

And for those that did vote leave, their reasons are not exactly clear.

It would be wrong to assume it was based purely on immigration. A large part of the campaign to leave was based on control of money and laws.

Please don't base Brexit on intolerance to foreigners. That is a bit simplistic and short-sighted (although I am sure that some may have voted based on those reasons)

Most countries are probably just as guilty, because countries are led by politicians ;)
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Having own control about many issues, without acknowledging the benefits of the EU (only thinking of disadvantages) can only be explained by having not much trust in good equal collaborations and relations with foreign people. Ignorance of these issues has led to that small majority. Segregation has led to the ignorance. Lack of integration led to segregation.
 
Forostar said:
You are not talking about integration. You talk about changing nationality. Can be done while still living a very segregated life.
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I talked about integration being easier in the UK than in any of those countries and, in addition, being easier to become a Brit (the key was in the use of the word "Furthermore"). Of course one can change nationality without integrating, but I have countless examples of people I know who were born outside the UK who have become Brits and are fully integrated members of the British society. As I have said previously, more than 10% of Brits have at least one grandparent who was not born here and you can find them everywhere, not just in ghettos without any integration.
 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Do we know what newspaper(s) Steve used to read in the 80's? That could be really important.
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Bruce-and-Steve-Harris-bruce-dickinson-24288889-322-403.jpg
 
Forostar said:
Having own control about many issues, without acknowledging the benefits of the EU (only thinking of disadvantages) can only be explained by having not much trust in good equal collaborations and relations with foreign people. Ignorance of these issues has led to that small majority. Segregation has led to the ignorance. Lack of integration led to segregation.
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Isn't it pretty ironic that EU leaders boast about democracy and then EU citizens have freedom of movement but not the right to vote where they live and pay their taxes if they are not citizens of that country? Talk about hypocrisy...
 
GhostofCain said:
I talked about integration being easier in the UK than in any of those countries and, in addition, being easier to become a Brit (the key was in the use of the word "Furthermore"). Of course one can change nationality without integrating, but I have countless examples of people I know who were born outside the UK who have become Brits and are fully integrated members of the British society. As I have said previously, more than 10% of Brits have at least one grandparent who was not born here and you can find them everywhere, not just in ghettos without any integration.
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The people you know might not be a good representation for the integration problems in your country.
 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Do we know what newspaper(s) Steve used to read in the 80's? That could be really important.
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Back in 2006, when there was exclusive content for FC members at www.ironmaiden.com there was a picture of Steve reading the Daily Mail (with the caption "A Mail man") and another of Bruce reading The Independent (with the caption "An independent man") on the jet they were using on tour.
 
Forostar said:
I don't think you can throw the Netherlands in the same category as France with its much larger problems.
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Probably not, but I do not see that many difference between Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen...

wilders-le-pen_2903851b.jpg


Marine: "I would love to have a chat with Nicko"
Geert: "Steve is mine!"
 
I am a pretty good follower of news and yes I do know some UK people. I also know a Dutchman who lived there for some years. He came back because of the nasty climate. When are you going back is an often asked question to foreign people who try their luck in Britain.
 
GhostofCain said:
Probably not, but I do not see that many difference between Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen...
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True but I was more talking about the real problems with foreign youth who feel they do not count in society. Also in the Netherlands, but I still feel it is better here. *knocks on wood*
 
Forostar said:
I am a pretty good follower of news and yes I do know some UK people. I also know a Dutchman who lived there for some years. He came back because of the nasty climate. When are you going back is an often asked question to foreign people who try their luck in Britain.
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Funnily enough, one of my best friends is another Dutch academic who has no intention of going back to the Netherlands with his Dutch wife and Dutch daughters... Not to mention the amount of Brits who have told me after the referendum that I am really appreciated (some even apologised for the outcome of the referendum!).
 
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