No Prayer for the Dying Drum Setup: Nicko McBrain's Gear on Iron Maiden's Only UK #1 Single (1990) | MetalForge
Nicko McBrain recorded No Prayer for the Dying (1990) on a Pearl Export Series kit with a Pearl Free-Floating Snare snare.
The complete gear breakdown for Iron Maiden's No Prayer for the Dying (1990). Discover Nicko McBrain's Pearl Free-Floating snare and Zildjian A cymbals behin...
Frequently Asked Questions
What drum kit did Nicko McBrain use on No Prayer for the Dying?
Nicko McBrain recorded No Prayer for the Dying (1990) on a Pearl Export kit — a one-album departure from the Ludwig Classic Maple he had used from Piece of Mind (1983) through Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988). He paired it with a Pearl Free-Floating snare and switched from his longtime Paiste 2002 cymbals to Zildjian A series. The setup suited the rawer, more live-sounding production the band pursued at Barnyard Studios. For his full gear history, see the [Nicko McBrain drummer profile](/drummer/nicko-mcbrain).
When did Iron Maiden release No Prayer for the Dying?
No Prayer for the Dying was released on October 1, 1990, on EMI. It was recorded in June 1990 at Barnyard Studios — a barn on bassist Steve Harris's Essex property, wired for recording using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio — with longtime producer Martin Birch. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and was the first Iron Maiden record to feature guitarist Janick Gers, who replaced Adrian Smith during pre-production.
What is Iron Maiden's only UK number one single?
"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter," from No Prayer for the Dying, is Iron Maiden's only UK number one single. Originally written for the 1989 film A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child and re-recorded for the album, it was released as a single in December 1990 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number one, where it stayed for two weeks. It remains the sole chart-topping single of the band's career, despite decades of top-ten hits.
Why did Nicko McBrain switch from Ludwig and Paiste for this album?
No Prayer for the Dying was recorded in a barn using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio rather than a conventional studio, and the band deliberately pursued a rawer, more stripped-down sound than Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Nicko McBrain's switch to a Pearl Export kit, Pearl Free-Floating snare, and Zildjian A cymbals gave producer Martin Birch a punchier, drier tone that suited the untreated live-room acoustics better than his usual Ludwig/Paiste combination. It proved to be a one-album experiment — his setup continued evolving on subsequent albums.
How does No Prayer for the Dying compare to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son?
The two albums represent opposite production philosophies. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988) was a polished, synthesizer-layered concept album recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich. No Prayer for the Dying (1990) was a deliberate reaction against that — a leaner, rawer record tracked in a barn with a mobile studio rig, following Adrian Smith's departure and Janick Gers's arrival. Nicko McBrain's drumming and gear shifted accordingly: from the dynamic, restrained playing and warm Ludwig maple tone of Seventh Son to the punchier, more aggressive Pearl and Zildjian setup on No Prayer. See the [Seventh Son of a Seventh Son drum setup article](/articles/seventh-son-drum-setup) for the preceding chapter.