Clive Burr

Clive Burr (8 March 1957 – 12 March 2013) was the drummer in the British band Iron Maiden. Previously a member of Samson, Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979. An acquaintance of then-Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton, Burr played on their first three records: Iron Maiden, Killers and their breakthrough release The Number of the Beast. Burr left the band in 1982 due to Iron Maiden's tour schedule and personal problems. He was replaced by the band's current drummer, Nicko McBrain.

Burr wrote one song on The Number of the Beast, "Gangland", and another song, "Total Eclipse", that was cut from the album and showed up as the b-side of the Run to the Hills single,and later on the Number Of The Beast remastered CD re-release.

After leaving Iron Maiden, Burr briefly played in the French group Trust, thus switching places with McBrain. Burr was featured in the short-lived NWOBHM supergroup Gogmagog which also included ex-Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno and future Maiden guitarist Janick Gers. He also had a band known as Clive Burr's Escape (later known as Stratus), featuring former Praying Mantis members, which disbanded after releasing one album. Burr then joined Dee Snider in his post-Twisted Sister outfit Desperado, which was never fully realized due to a falling out with the band's record company. Burr performed with British bands Elixir and Praying Mantis in the 1990s, but did not become a member of either.

Burr has since been diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis, the treatment of which left him deeply in debt. Iron Maiden staged a series of charity concerts and were involved in the founding of the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund. Burr is now confined to a wheelchair because of the MS.

Burr was patron of the charity Clive Aid, a charity formed in 2004. Clive Aid has since continued to raise awareness and funds for various Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) programs around the world through the staging of rock events.. Clive attended many of these events. Official Site of Clive Aid
Burr's signature white drum kit was donated to the Hard Rock Cafe in London in 2005.

Burr had a unique style of drumming when playing for Iron Maiden, often he would craft fills and beats which closely followed the riffs played by the bass and guitars. Excellent examples of this are "Phantom of the Opera", "Wrathchild" and "Genghis Khan" - Iron Maiden songs where the band played many pieces as a unit with the drums mimicking almost identically what was being played by the bass and guitars.
This unique approach by Burr gave the band a very tight, clean recording and live sound. His style continued to develop on successive albums. By Iron Maiden's third album, the classic "The Number of the Beast," his playing was economical; tight but still exciting. Songs like "the Prisoner", "Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills" were played simply but aggressively which added to the overall sound of the album.

Clive used Ludwig drums and Paiste Cymbals on the first two Maiden albums. His most recognised kit was his 1982 custom Tama kit used on the "Beast on the Road Tour"; depth=diameter "square" tom sizes:
Drums by Tama
08” × 08” Tom
10” × 10” Tom
12” × 12” Tom
13” × 13” Tom
16” × 16” Floor Tom
18” × 16” Floor Tom
22” × 16” Bass Drum
14”x6.5” (Ludwig Black Beauty Snare)
4 Octobans
Tama Camco Pedals
Drumheads
Remo Pinstripe
Paiste Cymbals
17" RUDE Crash
18" 2002 Medium
19" 2002 Medium
20" 2002 Medium
21" RUDE Crash
16" RUDE Crash
20" Sound Creation Dark Ride
20" 2002 Heavy Ride
14" Formula 602 Ex. Heavy Hi-Hats
22" 2002 China Type
20" 2002 China Type
Ludwig kits: Burr had 2 Ludwig Maple drum sets; the earlier in an off-white color, the later in white cortex. His 2nd kit used the same sizes as his Tama, minus the gong drum and octobans. His 1st Ludwig kit, which he usually played without bottom heads, had the same sizes as his second, but without the 8" tom, and a 14" added after the 13".

Burr died in his sleep on 12 March 2013 while he was 56.