Music News

Former ‘Iron Maiden’ drummer Clive Burr dies

By Ian M. Cullen Mar 14, 2013, 2:43 GMT

Steve Harris, the bands founding member and Bass player said it was "terribly sad news," in an announcement posted on the bands website. "He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out."

Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr has passed away at the age of 56 after suffering from multiple sclerosis. 

Steve Harris, the bands founding member and Bass player said it was "terribly sad news," in an announcement posted on the bands website. "He was a wonderful person and an amazing drummer who made a valuable contribution to Maiden in the early days when we were starting out."

Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979 and played on their first three albums. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson also paid tribute, saying: "Even during the darkest days of his MS, Clive never lost his sense of humour or irreverence."

Burr provided the back beat on Maiden’s first three albums. The self-titled Iron Maiden, Killers and their number one selling album, The Number Of The Beast. 

Megadeath Bass player David Ellefson paid tribute via his Facebook page saying,"He was one of my all time favourite Metal drummers."

Born in 1957 in the East End of London, Burr was a member of British metal band Samson before joining Iron Maiden.

"I first met Clive when he was leaving Samson and joining Iron Maiden," said Dickinson. "He was a great guy and a man who really lived his life to the full."

Burr left Iron Maiden in 1982 just prior to them becoming an international headlining band.  In 2001 when he he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. his former Iron Maiden band mates formed the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund to help raise money for his living costs.

The band performed a number of concerts in his honour when he was struggling to keep up with his mortgage payments for his home.