RIP Clive Burr

[DLR Bridge]

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor
Clive Burr, best known for his years drumming in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, died at his home on March 12 according to a statement on the band's Facebook page. He was 56.
Burr suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, and according to the statement "had suffered poor health for many years." The treatment left him in debt, but the band staged concerts to form the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund, which had raised over $350,000 by 2007 to assist.
He had been a member of the band Samson before joining Iron Maiden in 1979, then played on three of their albums before leaving in 1982.

Maiden bassist Steve Harris said in the statement, "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."
Singer 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."

[vandeleur]

Sad news , R I P

[jhale667]

Sucks. R.I.P.

[sadaist]

My mom had MS. I really does eat you away slowly those last 5 years or so. RIP Clive. Those Iron Maiden albums you were on are timeless classics.

[binnie]

R.I.P.

Very sad news indeed. And shame on a society that lets someone that ill get into debt to fund care (which I assume is what is meant by 'treatment' in the report).

Been cranking the first three Maiden records all day.

[FORD]

R.I.P.

Very sad news indeed. And shame on a society that lets someone that ill get into debt to fund care (which I assume is what is meant by 'treatment' in the report).

Been cranking the first three Maiden records all day.

So the UK national health system doesn't cover MS? Or was he somehow ineligible because he used to be a "rich rock star"?

[binnie]

So the UK national health system doesn't cover MS? Or was he somehow ineligible because he used to be a "rich rock star"?

Yes, the UK health system covers MS. Any medical treatments Burr was receiving would have been free (although MS is incurable at present). He may have gone abroad for experimental treatments - which he would have had to pay for - but I doubt it.

What the NHS does not pay for is care: help at home with day-to-day living like shopping, making food and so on. This would come under a different part of government (usually local government) and is only free for those people with savings of under £16,000 (roughly $30,000) if memory serves. It could be that Burr opted not to receive that social care, and pay for private care, which would be expensive. I should stress that I am speculating here in regard to Burr.

I've had some experience of the care system in the UK and it is shocking - a good carer is worth their weight in gold, but they are few and far between. Because the wages are so ridiculously low, you get some truly shocking people involved.......

In summary: the NHS pays for medical treatment (hospital care/ GPs and so one); and state social care is free for those without significant savings. If Burr got into debt it was because he opted for a private route.

[Green Manalishi]

Man , that is sad . MS is no joke . It is slowly killing my brother-in-law as we speak . MS brings a lot of baggage with it as it not only devastates the individual but it can devastate the circle of family and friends as well .
I was fortunate enough to see Clive Burr drumming for Iron Maiden in 1982 . They were smack in the middle of a line-up with Scorpions headlining and GirlSchool opening . A most ass kicking concert to say the least .
R.I.P. Clive . You are no longer sick or suffering .

[Seshmeister]

Yes, the UK health system covers MS. Any medical treatments Burr was receiving would have been free (although MS is incurable at present). He may have gone abroad for experimental treatments - which he would have had to pay for - but I doubt it.

What the NHS does not pay for is care: help at home with day-to-day living like shopping, making food and so on. This would come under a different part of government (usually local government) and is only free for those people with savings of under £16,000 (roughly $30,000) if memory serves. It could be that Burr opted not to receive that social care, and pay for private care, which would be expensive. I should stress that I am speculating here in regard to Burr.

I've had some experience of the care system in the UK and it is shocking - a good carer is worth their weight in gold, but they are few and far between. Because the wages are so ridiculously low, you get some truly shocking people involved.......

In summary: the NHS pays for medical treatment (hospital care/ GPs and so one); and state social care is free for those without significant savings. If Burr got into debt it was because he opted for a private route.

I think you have to be careful when talking to a US audience about public funded social services because what you might describe as shocking they might consider pretty good. I think quite a lot of geriatric care could be better but some of the chronic ongoing care is pretty amazing. I personally knew of a case of a 50 year old with a spinal paraplegic injury who received 24/7 care by 2 nurses(so a team of 12 full-time) at home where an extension was built onto his house in order to fit all the equipment and a transporter provided so he could get out and about. This went on for a few years until his death and would have cost literally millions but he didn't pay a penny and was not in debt.


I've been looking around for details on this and it seems unclear how Burr got into debt. It's a little annoying that the usual cut and paste journalism is going on in the media and as you say he would have had all of his medical bills paid for in the NHS.

I think the money went on extras or maybe he simply had lots of living expense bills to pay like we all do and when his earnings stopped he got into trouble. If I got MS I would go bankrupt, not because of medical treatment but because I have lots of outgoings and no critical illness insurance.

This maybe sheds some light, who knows what treatment was available in Belgium but without sounding cold it apparently didn't work and so it was quite right that it wasn't funded by the NHS.

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/iron-maiden-clive-aid-continues-quietly/

Iron Maiden will continue to actively support former drummer Clive Burr in his fight against multiple sclerosis – even though they want to keep quiet about it.

They’ve made a string of Clive Aid appearances in the past and helped found the Clive Burr Trust after MS began affecting his life and livelihood a decade ago, and put him in a wheelchair.

And mainman Steve Harris says they’ll be there whenever they’re needed by the man who played on the band’s first three albums.

Harris tells SamaritanMag.com: “We’ve been involved with stuff over the years. A lot of people make a big publicity thing out of it, but we don’t, so I’d rather not say.

“Our old drummer Clive has MS so we started the Clive Burr Trust. Another friend of mine, Ralph, has got it too – he’s in a wheelchair. I went to school with him. He’s my oldest friend since I was five years old, so we helped him too.”

The band don’t share details of the charity, although it’s known one early Clive Aid show raised £235,000 and the trust has provided Burr with specialist treatment in Belgium and a customised bed and computer. Others have received cash for modified vehicles and to adapt their homes.

[Hardrock69]

Sad day in Metal History....

[sadaist]

he would have had all of his medical bills paid for in the NHS.

Who pays the NHS?

[Seshmeister]

Who pays the NHS?

General, what you would call federal, taxation.

[DONNIEP]

General, what you would call federal, taxation.

And that's what taxes should be used for. Well, among other things obviously. But geriatric care should be a free ride.