IRON MAIDEN Drummer On HomeSafe: 'Every Child Deserves To Have Caring People Around Them'

March 22, 2013

IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain performed with his former PAT TRAVERS BAND bandmate Pat Travers at The Classic Rock & Roll Party on March 2 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Proceeds from the event will go to HomeSafe, a non-profit organization helping society's most vulnerable residents — victims of severe child abuse and domestic violence in Palm Beach County and South Florida. About 375 people attended the event, which raised more than $340,000.

Founded in 1979, HomeSafe provides comprehensive programs preventing new cases of family violence, protecting victims of child abuse and domestic violence, and preparing children and families for safer, more productive lives.

Through results-based programs and highly dedicated and qualified staff, HomeSafe has grown into a leading provider of prevention and intervention services. Each year, HomeSafe serves over fifteen thousand infants, children and families.

"I fell in love with the whole organization [after being introduced to it about eight years ago]," McBrain told Sun-Sentinel.com. "I had a wonderful childhood growing up in North London, and I think every child deserves to have caring people around them to nurture their abilities and help them go out and have a fulfilled life."

McBrain also visits the young residents at HomeSafe's residential campuses, and he recently donated drum sets, guitars, amplifiers, speakers and more to its music room.

"Music is very therapeutic and can help heal all kinds of ailments," the drummer said. "When I sit and talk to the kids, they ask what it's like playing on the road and how I deal with missing my family. They're very sweet and endearing and quite enthralled to know what life is like on a touring band."

Learn more about HomeSafe at HelpHomeSafe.org.

Speaking to the Broward Palm Beach New Times, McBrain stated about how he got involved with HomeSafe: "I got involved with HomeSafe about eight years ago. Tico Torres (of BON JOVI) was actually kind of host of it, but I met him through a lady who kind of set me with the golf tournament for Tico, and then I went to the event and I just fell in love with everybody who worked there at that time. There was such a positive vibe towards the way that people were working for the charity, and then Clarence (Clemons) came on board and we hit it off, and he took me down to meet the children at the West Palm Beach home, and it tugged the old strings of the heart, so, I've supported it ever since. This year, obviously we lost Clarence a couple of years back, they asked me to be the host and I MC'd the event last year and I'm very honored and proud to be a part of the big event this [year]! It's been tough, it's been hard work, but it's culminated in a great golf tournament and a fantastic night."

McBrain recorded two albums with PAT TRAVERS BAND: "Makin' Magic" (1976) and "Putting It Straight" (1977).

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).