Linda McDonald

Infobox musical artist
Name = Linda McDonald


Img_capt =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Linda Ann McDonald
Alias = Nikki McBurrain (The Iron Maidens)
Brandy Castillo (The Little Dolls)
Origin = Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
Instrument = drums
Genre = Heavy Metal
Hard rock
Tribute
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1989—Present
Label = DRZ Records
Powerslave Records
Associated_acts = The Iron Maidens
Phantom Blue
The Little Dolls
Valley Dolls
Carina Alfie
Meldrum
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/lindamcdonald myspace.com/lindamcdonald]
Notable_instruments = DW Drums
Paiste Cymbals

Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens (billed as the "World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden"). In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band [http://www.myspace.com/thelittledolls The Little Dolls] (billed as "All Female, All Ozzy, All The Time...Covering All Eras Of Ozzy"),and the all-female cover band [http://www.myspace.com/valleydollsrock Valley Dolls] . Prior to those works, McDonald was the drummer of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue from its inception in 1988 to its demise in 2001.

Biography

Of Irish and Japanese descent, Linda McDonald was inspired to take up instruments after listening to her brother's copy of Iron Maiden's "Maiden Japan" live EP. While she took up piano, guitar and violin, her self-taught drumming skills stood out the most. Following a short stint with a three-piece female band called Andromeda, McDonald became a founding member of Phantom Blue. And while the band found some success with their self-titled debut album in 1989, the rest of their career was marred by instability with management, record labels and numerous personnel changes. By the late 1990s, McDonald was the only original member of Phantom Blue. Their last recording was the EP "Full Blown" (1998) before they went their separate ways in 2001. [ [http://www.phantomblue.com/linda.htm Phantom Blue - Linda McDonald's Bio] ]

Shortly after Phantom Blue's demise, McDonald - along with fellow band mate Josephine Soegijanty and ex-Bandit member Sara Marsh - joined vocalist Jenny Warren and bassist Melanie Sisneros to form The Iron Maidens, an all-female tribute band to Iron Maiden. McDonald and Marsh have remained the original band members since then. As a member of The Iron Maidens, McDonald's stage name is "Nikki McBurrain," an amalgamation of Iron Maiden's former drummer Clive Burr and their current drummer Nicko McBrain. [Drum! Magazine No. 132, June 2007] And much like McBrain with his drum kit, McDonald has hers decorated with a Sooty puppet.

In addition to The Iron Maidens, McDonald and Marsh are also members of [http://www.thelittledolls.com/ The Little Dolls] , an all-female tribute band to Ozzy Osbourne. The band is named after a song from Osbourne's 1981 album "Diary of a Madman". For this band, McDonald's stage name is "Brandy Castillo," named after the late Randy Castillo. [ [http://www.thelittledolls.com/linda.html The Little Dolls - Linda McDonald] ] The Little Dolls' cover of "I Don't Know" is featured on the 2006 various artists compilation album "Girls Got Rhythm!". McDonald also drums for the female cover band [http://www.myspace.com/valleydollsrock Valley Dolls] .

Aside from Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain, McDonald also cites Simon Phillips, John Bonham, Alex Van Halen and Phil Collins among her influences. [ [http://www.myspace.com/lindamcdonald Linda McDonald's MySpace Profile] ]

On January/February 2009, McDonald will join the surviving original members of Phantom Blue for a 20th anniversary reunion show for the benefit of former band mate Michelle Meldrum, who died on May 21, 2008. [ [http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/iron-maidens/413413-phantom-blue-reunion-show-jan-feb-2009-a.html The Iron Maidens Forums - Phantom Blue Reunion Show on January/February 2009] ]

Discography

Phantom Blue

* "Phantom Blue" (1989)
* "My Misery"
* "Built to Perform" (1993)
* "Prime Cuts & Glazed Donuts" (1995)
* "Caught Live" (1997)
* "Full Blown" (1998)

The Iron Maidens

* "" (2005/2006)
* "Route 666" (2007)
* "The Root of All Evil" (2008)

The Little Dolls

* "Girls Got Rhythm!" (Various artists) (2006)
** "I Don't Know" [ [http://www.allaccessmagazine.com/vol4/issue10/girls_got_rhythm.html All Access Magazine - Girls Got Rhythm] ]

Collaborations

* "Warmth in The Wilderness" (Tribute to Jason Becker)
* "Transmission" (Carina Alfie)
* "Electric Fuzz" (Carina Alfie)
* "Blowin' Up the Machine" (Meldrum)

Equipment Endorsers

Linda McDonald is endorsed by Paiste cymbals; Vic Firth drum sticks; Drum Workshop drums, pedals and hardware; Coffin Case and Monster Energy Drink.

Media

Linda has been featured in "The Los Angeles Times", "Guitar World", "Metal Edge", "Modern Drummer", "DRUM! Magazine", "Kerrang", "Rip", "Aardshock", "Metal Hammer", "L.A. Weekly", "L.A. New Times", "OC Weekly", "Chicago Local Live Magazine", "Portland Tribune", "Playboy", "Orange County Register", "The National Enquirer", "FHM", "Maxim", two MTV videos, ABC’s "Livin’ Large" TV Show, "54321" on Fox Sports Net, two "Hard N' Heavy" video magazine episodes, "Gibson Lifestyle" [ [http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/meet-the-worlds-only/ Gibson Lifestyle - Meet the World's Only All-Female Iron Maiden Tribute Band] ] , KCAL-TV's "9 on the Town", and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/LindaMcDonald Linda McDonald Official MySpace Site]
* [http://www.phantomblue.com/ Phantom Blue Official Site]
* [http://www.theironmaidens.com/ The Iron Maidens Official Site]
* [http://www.theironmaidensjp.com/ The Iron Maidens Official Japanese Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/theironmaidens The Iron Maidens Official MySpace Site]
* [http://www.thelittledolls.com/ The Little Dolls Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thelittledolls The Little Dolls Official MySpace Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/valleydollsrock Valley Dolls Official MySpace Site]