Bad news, my fellow metalheads: former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr has passed away at age 56. The legend died “peacefully in his sleep” in his London home this Tuesday night after years of suffering from multiple sclerosis. Bass player and fellow founding member of Maiden, Steve Harris, said in a statement on the bands official website:
“This is terribly sad news. Clive was a very old friend of all of us. 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. This is a sad day for everyone in the band and those around him and our thoughts and condolences are with his partner Mimi and family at this time.”
Frontman Bruce Dickinson also expressed his grief, saying:
“I first met Clive when he was leaving Samson and joining Iron Maiden. He was a great guy and a man who really lived his life to the full. Even during the darkest days of his MS, Clive never lost his sense of humour or irreverence. This is a terribly sad day and all our thoughts are with Mimi and the family.”
Although Burr left Iron Maiden in December of 1982, before the group broke into the mainstream, the drummer never sat still for long, appearing on recordings of metal acts like Trust, Stratus, Gogmagog, Elixir, Desperado, and Praying Mantis. As his MS progressed, his former bandmates helped him form the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund with charity concerts.
Our deepest condolences go out the friends, fans, and family of this incredible man. Heaven just gained another great, may he rest in peace.
