Former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr has died following a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis at the age of 56.
An official statement on the band's website reads, "We are deeply saddened to report that Clive Burr passed away last night. He had suffered poor health for many years after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and died peacefully in his sleep at home."
Steve Harris commented, "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."
Bruce Dickinson said of the news, "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 M.S., 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."
The Clive Burr MS Trust Fund was set up in 2002 and Iron Maiden has played a number of benefit concerts to raise awareness for cancer and MS programs.
Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith said in 2004: "Clive was a great drummer, an Ian Paice-type drummer, steady and solid with a nice feel to everything."
Clive played on the first three Iron Maiden albums, "Iron Maiden" (1980), "Killers" (1981) and "The Number of the Beast" (1982) before being replaced by Nicko McBrain.
RIP Clive Burr (8 March 1957 – 12 March 2013)
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