Does Nicko McBrain use a double bass pedal?

No — Nicko McBrain has never used a double bass pedal with Iron Maiden. His entire galloping, triplet-based rhythmic vocabulary runs through a single Sonor pedal on a single 22"x17" bass drum, proving foot independence rather than raw double-bass speed can anchor a genre-defining sound.

What pedal does Scott Travis use?

Scott Travis of Judas Priest drives his twin 22"x18" bass drums with two independent Tama Speed Cobra 910 single pedals rather than a linked double pedal — the same foot-independence approach he's used since his 1980s Racer X days.

Single pedal or double pedal for power metal?

It depends on your material. A single pedal (Nicko McBrain) suits gallop-first, triplet-based rhythms and rewards foot independence. A double pedal (Aquiles Priester, Mikkey Dee) is necessary for sustained 16th-note double-bass runs at 180+ BPM. Neither is more "authentic" — both have driven the genre's most influential recordings.

What pedal does Aquiles Priester use?

Aquiles Priester currently plays a DW 9000 Series double pedal on his 2023 Angra return-era rig, chosen for the sustained consistency his relaxation-based, 180-220+ BPM neoclassical double-bass technique demands.

Do I need an expensive double pedal to play power metal?

No — a Tama Iron Cobra 600 or Pearl Eliminator Redline will teach real double-bass technique at a fraction of the price of Aquiles Priester's DW 9000 or Mikkey Dee's Demon Drive. If your material is gallop-first rather than double-bass-heavy, a Sonor-style single pedal is even more affordable.