At Nicko McBrain's official inauguration as British Drum Co. artist and international ambassador, two kits were shown: his 'Legacy of the Beast' Iron Maiden tour drumset and 'The Trooper,' a 4-piece kit presented to Robinsons Brewery where Iron Maiden's Trooper beer is made and the set-up of Nicko McBrain's practice-kit during the Iron Maiden tours. In the video below, Nicko McBrain presents this stunning piece of art together with British Drum Co's Keith Keough, Al Murray and Ian Matthews.
The Trooper is a gift The Trooper drum kit is first a gift from the British Drum Co to Robinsons Brewery. Both the companies are located in Manchester, have a well-established history with Iron Maiden and Nicko McBrain, and, we have to say it, who can blame Nicko's new drum company for using the realm of creative possibilities in artwork on drums that come with his presence in the company.
This stunning piece of artwork carries the name and images of The Trooper. Not only is Trooper Iron Maiden's beer brand, the song it represents comes from Maiden's fourth album 'Piece of Mind' from 1983, and the first one that features Nicko McBrain on the Maiden drum stool.
For Maiden fans, we found a nice detail you can spot on the kit: Eddie is carrying the flag on his right side, a representation of The Trooper that we haven't seen before.
If you have, or can find any image of this, please send it to us on our info@ address so we can add it to this article with your name and story! Glory for everyone!
Nicko confirmed to Drummerszone that a kit with the sizes we see below will be his practice kit set-up for him during all the upcoming Iron Maiden tours. The first time being the 2020 Legacy of the Beast tour, of course.
The Trooper kit presented to Robinsons Brewery is a Lounge Series. While Nicko's Iron Maiden touring kit is a Legend Series, his practice kit will also be a Lounge, a slightly lower volume series, for drummers who are familiar with the brand.
Nicko McBrain's British Drum Co. Lounge & Legend series The main difference between these two series can easily be detected in the looks. The Palladium hardware used on the company's Lounge series has long one-piece lugs, where the Legend Series (Nicko's touring drums) carries single lugs. There are a few exceptions on this rule, with the snares for instance.
The snare drums in the Lounge Series have 8 lugs and is considered the Vintage Line of the company. The Legend Series snare drums have 10 lugs.
The Trooper is Nicko McBrain's British Drum Co. practice kit on Iron Maiden tours
So, how does this legendary drummer use a little drumset like this as a practice kit?
Going fast-forward to the interview we had with Nicko the morning after the big announcement, he actually said the following:
"My drumset is so unique. And it's a large drumset. I do much prefer sitting behind a 5-piece, or even a four."
Drummerszone: Really? "Yeah, it's so much easier. I can play Trooper on a 4-piece drumset, hahaha!"
The Trooper - a British Drum Co. Lounge Series drum kit On display at Robinsons Brewery in Manchester, and Nicko McBrain's practice kit on Iron Maiden tours, The Trooper's shells are.
12" x 8" tom
16" x 16" floor tom
22" x 14" bass drum
For anyone reading this and who is not a drummer: drum sets often come in shell packs. Snare drums are rarely included when buying a higher level drum kit. Hence, the special snare drum line of the British Drum Company.
More Nicko McBrain & the British Drum Co on Drummerszone
Make sure you follow us on all the socials and register as a Member on Drummerszone for when we release our interview with Nicko. We spent two full hours talking drums, music, sound, history and of course his brand new British Drum Co. Legend Series and his history with master drum builder Keith Keough.
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