Doug Sampson

Doug Sampson
Born (1957-06-30) 30 June 1957
Hackney, London
Genres Heavy metal
Instruments Drums
Years active 1975 - 1979
Associated acts Iron Maiden, Smiler, Janski

Douglas Gary Sampson (born 30 June 1957, Hackney, London)[1] is a British former musician, best known as the drummer for Iron Maiden from 1977 to 1979.[2]

Biography

Prior to joining the band, Sampson was a member of one of Steve Harris' previous groups, Smiler, in 1975,[1] after which he was asked to join Iron Maiden at their inception in the same year.[3] He declined to join at the time as he was "a bit fed up with the whole rock band thing" because he was "completely skint,"[3] but accepted a further invitation in November 1977 after he had taken up drumming again in a group called Janski.[4]

Following a year of playing small pubs with the band, during which they gained a small following,[5] he participated in the recording of Iron Maiden's demo, later released as The Soundhouse Tapes, on 31 December 1978,[6] some tracks from which appeared in the charts of Neal Kay's Heavy Metal Soundhouse club, published weekly in Sounds.[7] Iron Maiden eventually signed to EMI in 1979,[8] following which they undertook two failed attempts at recording their debut album, although one song from these sessions ("Burning Ambition") was included on the B-Side of "Running Free".[9]

Sampson eventually left the band on 22 December 1979, following health issues brought about by the band's extensive touring schedule, and was replaced by Clive Burr four days later.[10] Although he calls it "a blow," he states that "the truth is, I don't think I could have handled it, so maybe it turned out for the best."[11] Although he would form other bands, Sampson has never played professionally since his time with Iron Maiden, after which he ran an off-licence before becoming a forklift driver.[12]

Discography

Iron Maiden

Notes

  1. 1 2 Wall 2004, p. 25.
  2. ↑ Weber, Barry. "Biography: Iron Maiden". AMG. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 Wall 2004, p. 26.
  4. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 49.
  5. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 59.
  6. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 66.
  7. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 69.
  8. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 108.
  9. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 126.
  10. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 122.
  11. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 123.
  12. ↑ Wall 2004, p. 124.

References

  • Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (third ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1-86074-542-3 
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