Simon Dawson is the new drummer

chaosapiant said:
One minor correction: Joe was the backup for the previous three tours prior to Future Past. This is key because Joe was not the backup on Future Past and, looking at BL's touring schedule mostly matching Maiden's, Simon was very likely the backup drummer for the latest tour.
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That was pretty major :D

chaosapiant said:
So all the data on Joe being the backup is, at this point, out dated and the band has clearly chosen a different direction. By band I mean "Steve."
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So maybe that was the reason that BL toured with Maiden after all?
Bad timing for Joe that’s for sure.
 
Kalata said:
That, I wonder too, although it's wild to imagine Maiden with a double bass drum kit.
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You don't need two bass drums, just a double pedal. Apparently Simon's played with them either in the past or even currently with BL (if posts from closer to back when the announcement was made are to be believed) so it doesn't seem like it'd be too big of a leap for him to play with two pedals with Maiden just to make certain things easier.
 
Murder of Rue Morgue said:
Simply because Joe Lazarus was Nicko's backup, has studied Nicko's parts in deep, in sum he already was an IM-family member. Let's be real, at this point how many tours do the guys have left, other than RFYL? The kid is a solid drummer, just give him the role he worked hard for.

PS: Steve Lazarus was openly critical of Steve's choice and brought reasonable arguments on the table, including that Joe has been Nicko's backup for the past 3 tours (I think his anger was mostly due to Joe being his son, tho).
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World is full of solid drummers, that doesn't entitle any of them to be in Iron Maiden.

I still don't understand the argument that a bassist (who is the decision-maker) should choose someone who learned to copy the style of a former band member instead of someone he has been playing with on stage for years and knows what to expect.
 
Kalata said:
That, I wonder too, although it's wild to imagine Maiden with a double bass drum kit. I think I'd like it, but I guess he'd choose to play it like Nicko, which might not be his preferred style. He's a versatile drummer like him after all, from watching the clips. Maybe Steve, Bruce and Adrian will discuss it too?
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Even if he were to use a double pedal, I don't think he would use it in a way that would be too noticeable. For example I don't think he'll start inserting random 16th bursts in different spots.

I could see him use it for fills and for sections where Nicko is using the heel-toe technique to achieve incredible speeds with a single pedal. You can play these much easier with a double pedal and it would effectively sound the same. Depending on Simon's skillset and comfortableness with one pedal, a second pedal could be an easier way for him to play Maiden grooves in a faithful way. Just because he uses a double pedal doesn't mean that he'll turn Maiden into an extreme metal band :P
 
chaosapiant said:
One minor correction: Joe was the backup for the previous three tours prior to Future Past. This is key because Joe was not the backup on Future Past and, looking at BL's touring schedule mostly matching Maiden's, Simon was very likely the backup drummer for the latest tour. So all the data on Joe being the backup is, at this point, out dated and the band has clearly chosen a different direction. By band I mean "Steve."
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Correct. Joe was the backup drummer from book of souls tour to the legacy of the beast final leg. He got a few jobs in between so he couldnt keep this position for the upcoming tour (future past).
 
Meliegree said:
World is full of solid drummers, that doesn't entitle any of them to be in Iron Maiden.

I still don't understand the argument that a bassist (who is the decision-maker) should choose someone who learned to copy the style of a former band member instead of someone he has been playing with on stage for years and knows what to expect.
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Absolutely. There would have been many very good drummers as candidates.
And Joe apparently didn't even schedule other dates suitably to give himself a better chance of getting the job of a lifetime. So did he think that Simon Dawson, who did tour with Maiden and played with Steve all year (or other drummers) are no competition for him anyway? A very strange attitude.
 
Vaenyr said:
...

I could see him use it for fills and for sections where Nicko is using the heel-toe technique to achieve incredible speeds with a single pedal. You can play these much easier with a double pedal and it would effectively sound the same...
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Yes, I don't think he has to copy Nickos techniques exactly. The result, the feel, has to fit.
 
DorotheaMe said:
On this board until the beginning of December: If one of them retires, they will all retire. They are a family.
Proven wrong.
Now: If one more member retires, they all will retire. :D
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Somebody in the band have previously said in passing, if I'm not mistaken, that if one member wants to stop playing, that will be the end of it. They obviously changed their minds about that, but seems pretty reasonable to me that fans take that to heart.
 
They can have change of heart. I'm sure Nicko insisted they continue. Plus next year is the big 50th anniversary tour, too many fans would be disappointed. In my eyes the only bad look is if they 'retire' and then come back - like so many other bands do.
 
DorotheaMe said:
Absolutely. There would have been many very good drummers as candidates.
And Joe apparently didn't even schedule other dates suitably to give himself a better chance of getting the job of a lifetime. So did he think that Simon Dawson, who did tour with Maiden and played with Steve all year (or other drummers) are no competition for him anyway? A very strange attitude.
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That is an interesting thought I have not found discussed much. Why wasn't being the back up drummer for Maiden on every tour Joe's top priority if the role of his life was supposed to be becoming a member of that band?
Or did Steve say to have Simon with him on tour is sufficient as back-up? But why did Joe or at least his father then apparently have no clue what that could mean?
 
DorotheaMe said:
On this board until the beginning of December: If one of them retires, they will all retire. They are a family.
Proven wrong.
Now: If one more member retires, they all will retire. :D
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I dont see iron maiden playing with steve harris and bruce and 3 new guitar players. And maybe they are thinking about retirement and thats the reason why they didnt look for another drummer.
Just finish a 2 or 3 tours one more record and thats all
 
I guess that there's a difference between being a backup drummer for a few tours and actually being lined up for the touring job as the main drummer, on the off-chance the actual band drummer retires. He could have sat and waited for that job for years with the chance that Maiden just call it quits in the near future anyway. Or he could just get on with his own career.

I get the impression Simon is generally readily available and willing to go out with Steve at short notice. He's not at the same stage of his career as Joe.

Again, I think it's a slightly safe and comfy choice, but also one that ticks all kinds of boxes, at least for Steve.
 
Theoretically, that makes sense, but doesn't fit with the father's tantrum. He didn't sound as if his son had deliberately chosen to focus on his other career.
 
TaaviMaiden said:
Theoretically, that makes sense, but doesn't fit with the father's tantrum. He didn't sound as if his son had deliberately chosen to focus on his other career.
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I guess that Laz hoped Joe would be chosen based on the previous retainer contracts (and who knows what Steve might have told them in the past). However, I understand Joe’s need to earn his crust elsewhere whilst waiting for the hypothetical Maiden job. At the end of the day, Maiden tours are fairly short (a little over 3 months this year) and I doubt Rod et al. would be paying his wages for the whole year.
 
Possible, but then a little naive. It is obvious that you have a very strong competitor if someone else is the current back up. The father came across as completely bewildered.
 
Brigantium said:
I guess that there's a difference between being a backup drummer for a few tours and actually being lined up for the touring job as the main drummer, on the off-chance the actual band drummer retires. He could have sat and waited for that job for years with the chance that Maiden just call it quits in the near future anyway. Or he could just get on with his own career.

I get the impression Simon is generally readily available and willing to go out with Steve at short notice. He's not at the same stage of his career as Joe.

Again, I think it's a slightly safe and comfy choice, but also one that ticks all kinds of boxes, at least for Steve.
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I think Joe was unlucky as he wasn’t on retainer contract when it mattered.
Also being “available” especially for that long with that age gap is a dangerous thing for a young man’s career.
Being available is generally dangerous for any career.

But there are people and people, there are the Steves of this world the Daves, the Bruces and there are the Joes. Safest bet for me is trying to be one’s own man, which is Steve, but I understand and respect all choices, providing that one is comfortable with the risks especially at a young age. Steve’s way has the obvious risk of not making it, but at least one followed one’s own path which is a reward in itself.

I read that James LaBrie turned down Maiden for Bruce’s replacement. That was an excellent choice and one must have a solid character and some times education to make such right decisions.
 
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