Iron Maiden issued the following statement on their website:

“We are deeply saddened to report that Clive Burr passed away last night (March 12). He had suffered poor health for many years after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and died peacefully in his sleep at home.”

Bassist Steve Harris said: “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 added: “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”.

Burr joined Maiden in 1979 and performed on the first three albums Iron Maiden (1980), Killers (1981) and The Number Of The Beast (1982). Prior to that he was a member of Samson, the band Bruce fronted before he too joined Maiden.