Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Simon Phillips
Artists “I got a hacksaw, chopped down the stand and put the hi-hats down there”: How Simon Phillips learned to play left-handed
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Electronic Drums Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Zultan Alaris cymbals
Cymbals “Deliver a light, open sound with exceptional stick definition and a gentle, airy wash: Zultan unveil new ALARIS cymbal range
Echotown Studios Main Room
Studios Echotown Studio: A world class recording studio in the stunning Dorset countryside
Alter Bridge record in 5150 Studios, the studio that the late Eddie Van Halen built, courtesy of an invite from his son and friend of the band Wolfgang Van Halen
Artists Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti on recording at the studio that Eddie Van Halen built
Geezer Butler's signed Ashdown amp heads from Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning show are being sold exclusively via Reverb, signed by the man himself.
Artists “Your chance to own the sound that defined heavy metal”: Geezer Butler bass amps from Sabbath’s final show to go on sale
Simon Phillips
Artists “I didn't recognise him. I found out later it was Dave Gilmour!”: Simon Phillips' chaotic session with Pete Townshend
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Drums Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
DarWin
Artists “Most pop music is rubbish now”: Legendary drummer Simon Phillips on producing supergroup DarWin
decap
Artists “I'm getting on an airplane, I'm listening to a song and it has my sound in it”: How DECAP's Drums That Knock became the must-have sample pack for modern producers
Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans and Steven Jones from Scottish metalcore heavyweights Bleed From Within pose with their weapons of choice: Goonzi [left] has an ESP LTD M1000, while Jones has a Caparison TAT Special
Artists Bleed From Within’s Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans and Steven Jones on the high-performance shred machines behind their heavyweight metalcore sound 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
Drums “For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
beatbuddy
Tech Singular Sound’s BeatBuddy 2 is here, your drummer just got an upgrade
Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic: the hollowbody electric is finished in
Guitars Gretsch teams up with Abbey Road for the Studiomatic – a hollowbody with a filter circuit inspired by actual tech from the studio
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Kits

In Pictures: First-look at Premier's Nicko McBrain drum kit

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 30 September 2011

Take a look around Premier's new Nicko kit

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

First look: Premier Iron Maiden drum kit

First look: Premier Iron Maiden drum kit

Premier has unveiled the first glimpse of their brand new Iron Maiden Nick McBrain drum kits.

Since 1993, the relationship between Nicko McBrain and Premier has culminated in a series of iconic drumsets produced to support Iron Maiden’s world tours that are instantly recognisable by the band’s millions of fans. The ‘Spirit of Maiden’ is the first drumset product from Premier that offers these fans an affordable drumset that’s officially licensed by Iron Maiden.

The artwork of the kit depicts the band’s iconic mascot Eddie from the ‘Piece of Mind’ album; the first Maiden album to feature Nicko on drums. Finished in a two-tone metallic grey and silver, the covering is produced in the UK at the same facility used for Nicko’s personal tour kits. Each drum has a silver embossed Iron Maiden badge that complements the artwork whilst the bass drum head includes the Premier logo in Maiden’s signature font.

Featuring 6.6mm 6-ply birch shells, the Spirit of Maiden shell pack consists of two power toms, 10”x9“ and 12”x10” with traditional mounting upon the shell. The power toms, along with the 16”x16” floor tom, come fitted with 1.6mm triple-flange steel hoops.

Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
First look: Premier Iron Maiden drum kit

First look: Premier Iron Maiden drum kit

The 22”x18” bass drum’s attributes include matching, fully finished, lacquered wooden hoops and heavy-duty spurs. The power toms are mounted to the bass drum with the inclusion of the Roklok tom holder. Finally a matching 14”x5.5” snare drum completes the 5-piece shell pack offering.

All batter heads are Remo UT Coated whilst ebony heads are fitted to the response side, a signature found on Nicko’s tour kits. ‘Spirit of Maiden’ is available in store from November onwards and is presented in a specially printed Iron Maiden carton.

“Working with Nicko is always a great experience” says Premier’s marketing manager Colin Tennant. “The project has taken nearly two years to develop since initial discussions with Nicko. We sat with Nicko and jointly scoped a kit that Maiden fans around the world would be proud to own. Nicko’s ideas and vision have been developed into this fantastic kit, officially endorsed and approved by Iron Maiden.”

The Spirit of Maiden drumset is the first of a series of Nicko McBrain and Iron Maiden licensed drumsets to be launched by Premier. Further products are to be launched later this year.

For more information visit the official Premier website www.premier-percussion.com. For the world exclusive first review of the Spirit of Maiden kit pick up the December issue of Rhythm.

Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

Deals not to miss
Simon Phillips
“I got a hacksaw, chopped down the stand and put the hi-hats down there”: How Simon Phillips learned to play left-handed
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
 
 
Zultan Alaris cymbals
“Deliver a light, open sound with exceptional stick definition and a gentle, airy wash: Zultan unveil new ALARIS cymbal range
 
 
Echotown Studios Main Room
Echotown Studio: A world class recording studio in the stunning Dorset countryside
 
 
Alter Bridge record in 5150 Studios, the studio that the late Eddie Van Halen built, courtesy of an invite from his son and friend of the band Wolfgang Van Halen
Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti on recording at the studio that Eddie Van Halen built
 
 
Latest in Drum Kits
Man playing acoustic drums on the left of the image and electronic drums on the right
Is an acoustic or an electronic drum kit better for beginners?
 
 
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
DrumCraft Urban Beats
“A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats review
 
 
Alesis Crimson III
Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain
 
 
Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set
“Boasts an array of features above its relatively low price”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review
 
 
DrumCraft Urban Beats
DrumCraft’s Urban Beats delivers pro-quality looks and sound for the compact stage and budget
 
 
Latest in News
Neural DSP Quad Cortex floating with smoke in the background
“A generational leap in modelling technology”: Neural DSP gives Quad Cortex and Nano Cortex an almighty power-up
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 03: UNDERWORLD Photo of Sarah NIXON and Luke HAINES and BLACK BOX RECORDER, L to R - Luke Haines & Sarah Nixon (Photo by Brigitte Engl/Redferns)
Billie Eilish introduced them to a whole new audience, and now '90s indie band Black Box Recorder are back
 
 
Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost arrives on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica
Is God a DJ? Pope makes appearance at religious rave in Slovakia
 
 
ValhallaDSP Supermassive 5.0
Valhalla Supermassive 5 can do everything from clean delay to “nearly eternal space reverbs” – and it’s free!
 
 
Harley Benton Custom Line King-12CE NT: the cutaway jumbo 12-string features an all-maple build, gold hardware and Fishman electronics
Harley Benton unveils Custom Line jumbo 12-string with a $350 price tag that’s for the Byrds
 
 
Positive Grid Mini on a shelf
Positive Grid just set the tone for Black Friday with up to 30% off their range of top-rated smart amps and software - including the Spark 2, Spark Mini & Bias X
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...