[SPOILER] Nicko McBrain Discusses the Tour
In a live interview with the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM conducted on Friday (Oct. 13), IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain defended the band's decision to play their new album, "A Matter of Life and Death", in its entirety on MAIDEN's current tour.Said Nicko: "You're never gonna be able to please everybody all the time.
"When we finished recording this record — that was way back in March/April of this year — when Kevin [Shirley, producer] had finished putting everything together and we listened to the record from top to bottom, it's one of those moments where — we're not sure who said it — but it was one of those magical moments when everyone was like, 'We've gotta do this live.' More than likely it was Steve [Harris] that said something. Nobody knows who it was that came up with this idea of doing it, but it doesn't really matter, because we all were in agreement. And we went, 'This is too good. What do you leave off this record?' In the past, we've always done five or six songs off a 10- or 11-track album. And so you kind of normally had two-thirds of the record performed live — I mean, 'Dance of Death', we did six tracks off the album — but this is historically the first time we've EVER ventured into doing something like this.
"For me, my personal feeling, and it's very well documented, I'm sure, is that I think that this is the best album I've ever made with this band. So I was delighted — it was a challenge, it is a challenge every night to play these songs, because they're very intricate, there's a lot more progression… there's lots of reasons what makes, for me, this album to play live a challenge. But we decided to take the bull by the horns and say, 'Look, we're not really worried…' Because we knew — and believe me, we sat and we said, 'You know we're gonna get flak for this from a lot of our older fans and even some of the newer fans who wanna hear the older classic songs.' But this is the wonderful thing when you've got 14 records that are all magic that all have great songs on them. So, let's just say, there's an average of 10 songs [per album], there's 140 tunes to choose from over a wonderful career of 25-plus years. The older fans and newer fans all go, 'I wanna hear my favorite, I wanna hear this…' but to do this, it is bold, and we just decided, 'Look, this is what WE wanna do as a band.' And we took the decision, and we knew we were gonna get various amounts of flak for it. And to be honest with you, I wrote a little [tour] diary [entry] the other day and I stuck it on the site and I said, 'Look, for you guys out there, stop freakin' whining. Just come and enjoy it. This is what we're doing because this is what WE want to do.' And it's not about not doing what our fans want. Because our fans made this record No. 9 — it was a Top 10 album — we've never had a Top 10 album in America. So there's a lot of people who are very happy to hear this album in its entirety. There are gonna be the people that are whining and moaning and groaning about it… Well, too freakin' bad. You're gonna get what get.
"Listen, if you look at it this way, and this is the way I look at it: You do an IRON MAIDEN set. We've got it split into thirds. We're doing two-thirds of the set new stuff; one-third is the old stuff. So you're getting two-to-one new. OK? That ain't bad. The great thing about it is that you know full well you're always get 'Iron Maiden' — it's the show closer, it's the signature song for the band. That will always be played last, and that's usually when you'll get the feature of whatever the theatrics we have on the stage — the entertainment side. We'll always have the album theme with a special effect come out — you're always gonna get that. One thing you always will have is 'Hallowed be thy Name', because I… myself and Steve, it's both our favorite IRON MAIDEN song to play live. And I made a deal with Steve years ago, and I said, 'If there's ever a time when you decide you don't want to do this song, you're gonna have to go get a new drummer.' Those two songs you will always have — always. There may be a time when we drop 'Hallowed' — possibly. But songs like 'The Trooper', 'Number of the Beast'… We've got 'Fear of the Dark', '2 Minutes to Midnight', and people go, 'Oh, I don't wanna hear '2 Minutes…' I'm fed up with it.' You're never gonna please everybody. But, of course, you don't wanna make somebody upset. They come all the way to see you, and they spend a lot of money to come down and have a good night out, and then they go, 'Oh, I'm disappointed.' I've read some e-mails that people have sent it, saying, 'I hope they change the setlist by the time they hit Europe.' Well, I've got news for you. Sell you freakin' tickets. Go scalp 'em. 'Cause we ain't changing the setlist."
10 Comments
It just makes me mad the fact that many are complaining, bitching and whining about Maiden doing the whole album. Maiden will do whatever they want...they have done it for over 25 years and I for one respect and admire them for doing so. This is " A Matter of Life and Death" tour. This is NOT a nostalgia tour. This band is not stuck on the past for god's sake...they have given us new material and have given us a tour with each one ever since Maiden was born. I happend to think that the new album is great and I most definitely will enjoy ever minute and every second of this tour on Oct. 21.
I fully agree, SandraD. I sadly won't get to see them (tomorrow), but if I could, it would be the fact that Maiden's playing, not what's being played, really. Besides, it's not like they're playing a bunch of stinker tracks.. the new album rocks hard.
Wait until you have to sit through the whole album with a completely bored audience, you'll change your tune. 6, even 8 off the new album fine, 10 is too much, because 5 classics is not enough.
yea,maybe it is that way in america,but not here in europe!! i'll bet we have unforgetable moments here.. it's just stupid to always wait for those all old songs! try it yourself to play all the same things for 20 years! everyone gets bored!
i think most of these complaining americans are just always after TOP10 hits everywhere, they don't understand the deepest meaning of maiden..or anything else..that's why the best music comes from europe :P
I think it is very small minded to think that Iron Maiden will play a lot of "classic songs" on every tour. The have played the "Give me Ed till I am Dead tour" in 2003 en the "History part 1 tour in 2005". On those tour they ONLY played classics like the Trooper ect. Iron Maiden are a progressive band and should NOT go on tour only to play songs from the good old days. Just be happy that they play something different. I admit that perhaps an album like 7th son is the best to play life all the way, but this sounds quite good to me. I have seen Iron Maiden some 20 times and I have heard songs like Run to Hills and The Number of the Beast on every show. It is good that they do something different this time. So, don't complain and be happy that they still go on tour after 26 years! I have to wait until november 27th to see them and I can't wait to see the show!
I was all for playing the whole album until I experienced it. Playing only 5 non-AMOLAD songs doesn't leave room for anything from BNW or DOD. I'd love to hear songs that have never been played or not played in a long time, but no one who likes Maiden, even Mr. Holier than Thou b/c you're European could say they'd rather hear The Legacy than Phanton of the Opera, Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Prisoner, Still Life, Back in the Village, Alexander the Great, Only the Good Die Young, etc.
And Eddison 84, I'm guessing you were born in 84, so I was a Maiden fan 2 years before the best part of you ran down your mother's leg.
I understand what you mean mr. Son and Steel. I didn't like the Give me Ed tour in 2003 because the only played old songs like the Number of the Beast ect. I admit that 10 songs from the new album is perhaps a little over the top. It is quite difficult for them to choose what to play, because they have to pick songs from 14 (!) studio albums. What they should do is play some different older songs. Alexander the Great, Flash of the Balde, Deja-vu or something like that. But to be honest, I haven't seen the show yet so I can not judge it. I have to wait until the end of November. Maybe they change the set a little when they come to Europe, you never know. It is nice that they still keep touring, however the amount of dates in the US is quite poor in my opinion. The first time I saw them was in 1984 and nobody could have dreamed then that would still be around in 2006. So let's give them some respect.
Respect and $70. Even Rod said the Nassau show was their worst in NY history. Some of my disdain is from the disappointment that 1000 Suns and Longest Day just didn't live up to expectations. To be clear, I was all for the idea, the execution is what lacked. The total energy during the non-AMOLAD songs was amazing, but I caught them at a 1/2 full arena with a bored crowd and sub-par sound. I've seen Maiden 5 other times and they were all great. I remember thinking they played too many new songs on the 7th Son tour as well.
How about this - Announce that you are playing the new album all the way thru before tickets go on sale - and see how many you would have sold.