BackstageAxxess' Gus Griesinger caught up with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain at the British Drum Company booth during the NAMM 2020 trade show in Anaheim, CA on January 18th. He offered a detailed look at his new signature Icarus drum kit, commented on the passing of Rush drum legend Neil Peart, and shut down any rumours of a new Maiden album surfacing in the near future.

McBrain previously spoke out about the passing of Neil Peart, calling the Rush drummer, "a true diplomat for the instrument, a wonderful human being, and a phenomenal player". The Iron Maiden drummer made the comments while talking to eonmusic at the NAMM Show in Ahaheim, California, on Friday, January 17.

Peart, who passed away on January 7 after a three year battle with brain cancer, was recalled fondly by Nicko, who spoke of the one time the pair met.

"I only met Neil once, at a show way way back in the late '80s", revealed McBrain. "We were playing in the same city - I think it was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, somewhere like that. They were doing a show, and we went to their show, got to meet them, and I got to sit and talk with Neil."

He continued; "[he was] a wonderful, articulated man. He was quiet, he was very reserved, but when you sat down with him, my impression of him was of a very articulated, very educated kind, and I liked him very much. And I loved his playing."

Read more at eonmusic.