Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain performed some of the band’s classic songs with The Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines on Friday night (March 8) at this year’s 52nd Mountbatten Festival Of Music (MFM) at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
Nicko McBrain played his kit, called Legacy Of Royals, for the track “The Maiden Legacy” – a medley of the heavy metal band’s most popular tracks: “The Trooper”, “Wasted Years” and “Run To The Hills”.
The video shot by fans of his appearance can be seen below.
On March 5, during McBrain’s rehearsals with the Royal Marines Band Service at HMS Temeraire in Burnaby Road, Nicko told The News about how his participation in the event came about: “Well, let’s see, 2020, the year we’re talking about, was the 50th anniversary of the Mountbatten Festival and I was present as a guest… And once this arose … The people I met there at the event said, “Oh, it would be nice to…”
And I was absolutely amazed at that. I thought, “There are these guys who play PRODIGY. It’s brilliant.” That’s where the idea came about. And they said, “Well, would you like to do it next year?” And I felt very honored and immediately agreed.”
Asked how rehearsals were going up to that point, Nico said: “The rehearsals were wonderful. Sunday was a bit – how to tell? I was very nervous. Because of the conditions, my right arm isn’t working very well, so I was very, very nervous about it.
We rehearsed very well, and then, of course, it was time to come yesterday with the full orchestra. And my God, the north wind is blowing right behind me. It wiped me out. The power and sound of these great musicians and a hundred-member orchestra jamming MAIDEN was just a joy to watch. I really wanted to stop and listen to them, but I can’t do that. It was great.”
McBrain suffered a mini stroke in early 2023 and has been recovering ever since.
When Nicko first went public with the stroke in August, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him “paralyzed” on one side of his body and “worried” that his career with the band was over.
Four years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and talked about it, in a single interview in 2021, but otherwise kept it mostly a secret. The musician received his cancer diagnosis after undergoing an endoscopy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine. Within a week, McBrain’s cancer was surgically removed and he now has tests every few months to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned.
Nicko’s drumkit will be sold at auction to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity and Grand Order of Water Rats Charity.
Source: BLABBERMOUTH
