I think the first time I met Nicko McBrain Jnr. was in 2001, he was only 13 back then, God I feel old…

His dad, Laz, runs the Official Iron Maiden fan club, so he used to come along to some of the fan club shows we did. Laz had mentioned Nicko Jnr. was learning the drums, and I joked “maybe he can get up and do a number with us sometime.”

About a year later, we were doing a show at The Ruskin Arms, and the pair of them had come along to see us. Before the show, Laz was telling me that Nicko Jnr. had really come on as a drummer, and that the real Nicko had given him some tips and let him sit behind him at Maiden gigs, so he could study him. I remembered what it was like starting out as a musician at that age, seeing bands and wishing you were up there, so I okayed it with the lads, and went back out and asked Nicko Jnr. if he fancied getting up with us in the encore to do a song. The look on his face was one of excitement and sheer panic! We had a chat about what song he was most comfortable with, and he finally went for 'The Trooper'.

I remember saying to the rest of the band, “go easy on him, he’s only 14…” Well! He nervously took the drum stool, then proceeded to give the fastest 4 count you’ve ever heard! I think it was down to a mixture of inexperience, excitement, nerves and raw adrenalin! I tell ya, the next three minutes felt like 3 hours. My fingers were going ten to the dozen trying to keep up with the triplets – I thought my right arm was going to fall off! I wish I’d told him to go easy on the rest of us!!!

Despite the over enthusiastic tempo of the song, I couldn’t believe what an amazing drummer he was for his age! I thought to myself, this kid is going to be one hell of a drummer one day, and how lucky the band will be that manages to snap him up! Over the next few years Nicko Jnr. came to more of our shows, and each time he would get up and do a guest slot on the drums with us. Each time he played, he just got better and better. Laz had always said to me, if we ever needed a drummer we should give Nicko Jnr. a call.
So when Quicko left the band in 2007 it was a no brainer, I was straight on the phone. Nicko Jnr is a genuine Maiden fan through and through, and is the perfect drummer to be in The Official Iron Maiden Tribute Band.

Nicko Jnr. is one of the nicest, most genuine, guys you could wish to meet. He’s got a great sense of humour, but is also quite quiet at times. He just likes to sit at the back behind his kit, with his head down. We have been trying to bring out his more flamboyant side recently, getting him to stand up so the crowd can see him. We’re even trying to get the odd “AIIIIEEEEE!” out of him, but we haven’t succeeded as yet…

Playing wise, I really don’t think you could ever find anyone else in the world who plays the songs as close to Nicko as Nicko Jnr. He has studied every technique Nicko uses, every nuance, every minute detail, every drum fill. He even puts the ‘parsnips’ in Hallowed Be Thy Name, something that I don’t think I have ever heard any other drummer in a Maiden tribute band do (though they probably will after reading this, lol). They seem to have overlooked it, but Nicko Jnr. is a stickler for detail. His right foot is also staggering! Just like Nicko, he refuses to use a double pedal, and has perfected his bass drum technique. So much so, that he tells me he outdid the real Nicko in a stamina competition with them both playing the Face In The Sand drum beat!!!...

Because of his attention to detail, he gets a lot of praise heaped on him from his fellow band members and punters alike, but it’s something he is very humble about. All in all, he is great fun to be around, caring, honest and just a little bit gullible. He is like the perfect little brother ;o) Oh, and he is also a scream on the rare occasions that we get him drunk. On our recent trip to Holland, he announced to us all that he is, in fact, ‘The Queen of Weetabix’!.....