Ex-Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr dies at 56

-Photo by Virginia Turbett/Redferns.

Iron Maiden’s drummer who featured on their first three albums, Clive Burr has passed away.

Burr, who was a member of the heavy-metal group between 1979-1982, died in his sleep earlier this week at the age of 56.

The sticksman played a part on early classics like 1980′s self-titled debut, 1981′s Killers and 1982′s The Number of the Beast, before leaving to work with other bands in the metal scene.

The band’s founding member and bassist, Steve Harris said of the news:

“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.”

Our thoughts are also with Burr’s friends and family at this time.