In the new feature FAN FRIDAY we will let profiled persons from various walks of life talk about their admiration for the best band in the world, Iron Maiden. First fan out is the immensely talented Norwegian drummer Kenneth Kapstad known for his work with Motorpsycho, Monolithic and Spidergawd among others.

First fan out is the immensely talented Norwegian drummer Kenneth Kapstad known for his work with Motorpsycho, Monolithic and Spidergawd among others. Check out the formers incredible homage to Where Eagles Dare at bottom of the article.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are and what you’re doing.

My name is Kenneth Kapstad and I´m a Norwegian drummer, doing all kinds of music, but mostly hard rock. My main bands are Motorpsycho, Monolithic, Møster! and Spidergawd.

How did you discover Iron Maiden?

I saw this promo video for “Can I play with Madness?” and I got really stoked, so later that summer I used all my money to buy the cassette box, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. So I was 9 years old when I understood the meaning of life.

What was the first concert you attended?

I didn´t see Maiden before after Bruce joined the band again. It was at the Roskilde festival in 2001 i think.

Favorite Maiden moment.

That must be the last time I saw them, in Bucuresti, Romania, summer 2013 on the Maiden England Tour. The boys were on fire, playing the songs that REALLY got my into music in the first place.

90’s – yay or nay?

I must admit that I have had a hard time trying to like the Blaze era, with little success. I just don´t like those albums. But I like the first album in the 90´s. I am one of those that love No Prayer for the Dying. Fear of the Dark has some good songs but are probably my least favorite with Bruce on vocals.

Who do you prefer, Clive or Nicko, and have they had any direct influence in your playing today?

I love both of them but there is no doubt that my favorite drummer of all time are Nicko McBrain. I think it´s quite easy, for the trained ear, to detect the Nicko influences in my playing. But I also, of course, love the more straight forward, solid, “punkish”, drumming of Clive.

Top three Maiden albums:

Seventh  Son of a Seventh Son
Powerslave
Somewhere in Time

Top five Maiden songs:

Impossible to pick only five. I just wrote down the first five songs that popped up in my head.

Infinite Dreams
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Hallowed by thy Name
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Aces High

Maiden rules because:

…they simply do!

Check out this fantastic teaser for Motorpsycho’s upcoming album. Do you recognize a certain drum part?

Visit Kenneth Kapstad at http://kennethkapstad.no/