# Nicko McBrain's Lemmy Friendship, UFO Encounter + Life in Iron Maiden > Nicko McBrain recalls his friendship with Lemmy Kilmister, a UFO sighting, and his time in Iron Maiden. - Title: Nicko McBrain's Lemmy Friendship, UFO Encounter + Life in… - Summary: Nicko McBrain recalls his friendship with Lemmy Kilmister, a UFO sighting, and his time in Iron Maiden. - Keywords: nicko mcbrain, lemmy kilmister, ufo sighting, iron maiden, drummer, music career, autobiography, hello boys and girls, harpercollins, clive burr, simon, steve harris - Source: Loudwire — https://loudwire.com/nicko-mcbrain-iron-maiden-book-interview - Published: 2026-11-10T14:32:44+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: nicko mcbrain, lemmy kilmister, ufo sighting, iron maiden, drummer, music career, autobiography, hello boys and girls, harpercollins, clive burr, simon, steve harris ## Nicko McBrain's Early Friendship With Lemmy Kilmister Nicko McBrain met Lemmy Kilmister during Hawkwind days and they became friends across the pre-Iron Maiden years. > Who's fired you now? ## Nicko's UFO Encounter Nicko saw four mysterious lights outside a youth club in Hatfield, England, at age 14 or 15. > We think we just saw fucking UFOs, mate. ## Joining Iron Maiden Nicko joined Iron Maiden after 10 years of bouncing between bands and was fired from Streetwalkers in 1976. > I was lucky enough to have that song as a vehicle to introduce me. ## Nicko's Suit Incident Nicko wore a three-piece suit to an EMI convention in New York in 1985 or '86, leading to a band meeting. > You need to go and see Steve. ## Nicko's One Writing Credit Nicko has one writing credit for 'The New Frontier' off Dance of Death, where he played bass. > Steve, go back to whistling, mate. ## Nicko's Drumming Style Nicko brought a funk/jazz groove style to Iron Maiden, differing from Clive Burr's solid, floor-based playing. > I brought more of a kind of a funk/jazz groove style that fit really well with Steve. ## Nicko's Drummer Friends Nicko praises Joey Jordison, Carmine Appice, Mike Portnoy, and others for their drumming skills. > Joey [Jordison] was just frighteningly fast and such a wonderful player. ## Nicko's Message to Ian Hill Nicko encourages Ian Hill to enjoy family time and play bass without strapping it to his neck. > Enjoy your time with your family and don't forget to get the bass out. ## Nicko's UFO Theory Nicko believes UFOs are inter-dimensional phenomena, not physical aliens walking among us. > I think it's inter-dimensional, it's the Fermi paradox. ## Nicko's Time in Iron Maiden Nicko spent over 40 years in Iron Maiden, retiring from touring in the 2000s. ## Nicko's Bass Playing Nicko played bass like Steve Harris, using two fingers, and wrote 'The New Frontier' melody. > I picked Steve's acoustic bass up and showed him and he went, 'Oh, you play just like me.' ## Nicko's Suit Incident Details Nicko wore a three-piece suit to an EMI convention in New York in 1985 or '86, leading to a band meeting. > You need to go and see Steve. ## Nicko's UFO Encounter Details Nicko saw four mysterious lights outside a youth club in Hatfield, England, at age 14 or 15. > We think we just saw fucking UFOs, mate. ## Nicko's Early Career Nicko was fired from Streetwalkers in 1976 and joined Iron Maiden after 10 years of session work. > I was fired from Streetwalkers in 1976. ## Nicko's Writing Credit Nicko has one writing credit for 'The New Frontier' off Dance of Death, where he played bass. > Steve, go back to whistling, mate. ## Nicko's Message to Ian Hill Nicko encourages Ian Hill to enjoy family time and play bass without strapping it to his neck. > Enjoy your time with your family and don't forget to get the bass out. ## Key takeaway Nicko McBrain shared his early friendship with Lemmy Kilmister, a UFO encounter, and his journey in Iron Maiden.