How good are your bandmates? Hint: They are never going to be this good.

[Neon Blues]

Iron Maiden to No Longer Perform Songs That Nicko McBrain Has Difficulties With

'If you can't do something in a song, we just won't do that song.'

www.ultimate-guitar.com

I'm a huge massive Iron Maiden fan, but I'm trying to lose the weight...

I thought this article was just amazing. In a world where so many bands would just replace a band member if they could find a better one.

I get Iron Maiden are a literal family and have been for so long but this is an amazing story.

Just adds to the legendary status I hold for Steve Harris.

 

[Datsgor]

I am reminded of how ultra cool Def Leppard were when it came to Rick Allen.

 

[Five or Six]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

 

[DonaldR]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

They might not improve as a band but they improve as a human being.

 

[waveman]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

Sometimes having the "best" musicians doesn't make the best band. And once you have reached the level of success Iron Maiden has and at their age, I doubt they are trying to out-do anyone.

 

[Five or Six]

Inference is slated toward all bands, pro or not. My band, your band, pro band. Don't want your band to improve, keep an anchor. Older bands that have been around for years have already dealt with the revolving door process early on in their careers.

 

[Bozendoka]

Wow. Already my favorite band and bass player, but actually decent human beings? Nice to wake up to a post like this.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

I’d prefer that Iron Maiden preserve their humanity and integrity as people, than give Nico the bum’s rush, or the disrespect that Metallica showed to Jason Newsted.
Or “replace” Nico with a clone like Journey.

It goes too far too often, Foreigner tours: 0 original members.

Respectfully disagree with your viewpoint.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Inference is slated toward all bands, pro or not. My band, your band, pro band. Don't want your band to improve, keep an anchor. Older bands that have been around for years have already dealt with the revolving door process early on in their careers.

Well that’s true, even Iron Maiden, Bruce (81) and Nico (83) aren’t original, and they kept Janek after he filled in when Adrian was out for a bit.

They’re simply choosing to drop a few songs from a HUGE list of material, and likely only temporarily, as Nico’s condition improves.

Again: humanity wins at times: and I for one salute unity and support within a team.

It’s not like dropping a couple tunes is going to piss off rabid Eddies more than replacing Nico would at this point. He’s diminished not dead, or incapable.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

It’s a great gesture for sure, but it’s also a double back scratch for the entire band. Nobody in the band would benefit from the band trying to play songs Nicko couldn’t play well, and getting a new drummer at this point in their career timeline doesn’t make a lot of sense.

As admirable as this move is, it’s not quite the same as the unselfish commitment made by the Def Leppard band members for Rick Allen on August 16, 1986 after his New Year’s Eve accident in 1984. That decision is still all but unbelievable.

 

[MCS4]

Nice to see. The context is not the same, but I've adjusted my main rock/metal band's setlists on multiple occasions when I knew that one or two members (or the band as a whole) would not be tight enough on some of our more intricate songs due to lack of practice time or general life issues.

 

[40Hz]

I think Snarky Puppy set the bar for excellence when it came to band memberships.

 

[Killing Floor]

Some bands are tight knit as friends and some aren't.
The Beatles switched bass players mid way through cutting an album.

 

[JRA]

I thought this article was just amazing. In a world where so many bands would just replace a band member if they could find a better one.

there are many different ways to show respect. i'm glad these guys thought of one that works for them. pretty cool!

 

[tothemax]

It takes more than just chops to make a "Band", but that said when the fans are expecting to hear greatest hits, a pro group should be able to meet that expectation. Def Leopard was a good example, I'm not sure how Jon Bon Jovi's voice is coming along after surgery, but some of those live recording from the last few years were pretty rough. We saw Jethro Tull last year and Ian Anderson's voice was pretty rough, but he can still deliver the goods and his flute sounds as good as ever (could he join forces with someone to help out on vocals, probably, but that's his call). We've all seen those bands that should have packed it in but are still out touring... At 68 I know how I feel after a two hour gig, Kudo's to those that can keep it real and keep performing...

 

[tshapiro]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

When I was younger, and yet to gain a lifetime of experience I would have agreed with you. But, at this point in my life, having both the no1 rated band in my city and leading a large global organization, I would respectfully have a different opinion. The key to a groups success is working together with what you have. A fully committed team is where its at - toss the bad apples in terms of attitude. It’s unrealistic to have a lineup of unicorns. Doesn’t happen is business, sports, or bands. But, group that works together the best is virtually unstoppable.

 

[Michedelic]

But then there was all the drama with Di’Anno, let alone all sorts of quirky personnel upheaval in the early days.

 

[bigtone23]

I think this is cool. Keeping the family together. Nicko playing drums a year and half from a stroke is pretty amazing.
Iron Maiden has a massive catalog and they can pick and choose what works for them now. Yes, they have some 'hits,' but that's not what they are all about. It's having that group of guys up there and Iron Maiden fans will like whatever songs they play.

Honestly, how much longer will they continue to tour? The average age of the band is just shy of 70. They tour comfortably for sure, but ??

 

[mambo4]

Sometimes having the "best" musicians doesn't make the best band.

There is no shortage of amazing players, whom I have zero interest in seeing perform.
Younger me enjoyed watching virtuosos. Older me wants solid material, solidly performed
I would guess Maiden qualifies as the latter

 

[KenSmithFan]

Any band, no matter pro or not is only as good as it's weakest member. Most bands will shed that person to improve as they should. Bands that don't, struggle to improve. That's always a tough thing to do when friends are involved.

It’s one of the reasons I don’t like playing with friends - when they screw up, no one wants to tell them where the Ursidae defecated in the buckwheat.