Drumming News
In 2022 we had an idea at BDC about whether we could get Nicko McBrain playing with the Royal Marines Band Service at their 2023 Mountbatten Festival of Music concert held at the Royal Albert Hall.
After speaking with the Band Service we got the green light and they decided that the 3 tunes they would incorporate would be Trooper, Wasted Years & Run to the Hills and there would also be a ‘Drum Off’ between Nicko and the Corps of Drums at some point in the arrangement.
As you all know towards the end of 2022 Nicko suffered a TIA which made it impossible to perform at the event in 2023. However this wasn’t going to stop Nicko and we decided to postpone the performance with the band until 2024.
Between this time Nicko recovered and went on tour with Iron Maiden which made sure he was in tip top condition for the first rehearsal in October with the Principal Director of Music, a few members of the Corps of Drums, and myself and Craig Buckley also in attendance. This was held at the Karma Sanctum in London.
It was at the meeting it was also decided that the whole performance would open up with the Aces High video intro. This was the only time Nicko and the RMBS got together before the rehearsals in Portsmouth 5 days before the first performance.
Below is Nicko’s schedule for the day. What’s interesting to note is that Nicko didn’t spend a lot of time rehearsing with the band as they also had their own music to go through as well.
Day 1 – Rehearsals at HMS Nelson with Nicko & Corps of Drums PM
Day 2 – First play through with band at HMS Temeraire
Day 3 – Top & tail pieces AM / PM full timed run through
Day 4 – Travel Day – Relocate to London
Day 5 – Rehearsals AM / PM Full Dress Rehearsal
Day 6 – Show 1 PM
Day 7 – Show 2 Matinee / Show 3 PM
Rehearsals:
The performance was a huge hit with the audience and even saw members of Iron Maiden in attendance on the Friday night.
- 6″ tom – Cross of Remembrance
- 8″ tom – Jaguar Growler with RM Green Beret
- 10″ tom – 1664 Birth of the Corps
- 12″ tom – 1944 Commando
- 13″ tom – 1805 Battle of Trafalgar
- 14″ tom – 1983 Falklans Yomper
- 15″ tom – 1970’s Changing of the Guard
- 16 ” tom – 2023 Commando
- 18 ” Floor tom – 2019 RM Bugler
- 24″ Bass Drum – RM crest (EIIR)
It was also decided that after the performance, this kit would go up for auction raising funds for the Royal Marines Charity and the Grand Water Rats. The auction is live and will run until November when the Royal Marines Charity hold a Gala dinner at the Guildhall in London where the auction will end in the room.
The Auction prize package includes all British Drum Co drums & hardware, custom Hardcase® protective cases, a full set of Paiste Cymbals (including the ride cymbal that Nicko used on the Iron Maiden Future Past tour!) It also includes the 40″‘ hand-painted gong and heavy duty flight case!
You can find out more about the Royal Marines charity auction and how to bid on the drum kit here
This is from British Drum Companies current issue of “Marching Orders”. You can sign up for to receive your newsletters at www.britishdrumco.com/subscribe.
