I was extremely sad to hear about Clive Burr’s passing a few days ago. It made the top of Yahoo’s trending items, which is how I discovered this tragedy. As a long time Maiden fan, I will say that Clive Burr perhaps is one of my personal favorite drummers of all time. Although I like Nicko McBain’s humor and how he’s managed to continue carrying the beating legacy of Maiden, Clive Burr certainly was my preference in that he had such a unique sound and was incredibly talented.
Take a song like Run to the Hills. The drum beat is such a signature for Maiden and is probably one of the things that helped make that song a classic. When you listen to Clive’s rhythm, it mimics the sound of a gallop, which has become such a signature sound for many of Maiden’s tunes.
He had such a raw intensity in his playing and I’m certain that his style influenced thousands of other drummers out there. Unfortunately, he was only able to contribute to Maiden for a brief three albums. But his playing was so distinct that they left a permanent impression.
Unfortunately, for Clive, he had been sick for years with multiple sclerosis. They said he died in his sleep and was at peace. Rather than dwelling on his death, I prefer to remember him as part of my growth as a musician, playing guitar along side his beat. We won’t forget ya mate!