Clem Burke, Drummer for Blondie, Dies at 70
The longtime drummer of Blondie - Clem Burke - passed away Sunday (April 6). He was 70 years old.
According to a statement from the band released Monday, Burke passed away “following a private battle with cancer.”
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“Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie,” the band added. “His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Burke joined Blondie in 1975, shortly after the band’s formation, and appeared on every one of their albums alongside founding members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. Born in New Jersey, the artist had his coming of age in the thriving New York punk scene and was a mainstay at legendary venue CBGB.
“CBGB was literally like rock ’n roll high school, you saw the same people every day, I’d be there five to six days a week,” Burke told Modern Drummer in 2023. “Our rehearsal space was a block south of CBGB, we’d go there every night, I must have seen the Ramones over 100 times. People would cross paths and there was a huge cross polarization of influences.”
Burke would go on to play a massive role in shaping Blondie’s rhythmic force throughout his tenure in the group, incorporating styles like disco, reggae, punk rock, and more into drum compositions. After Blondie’s initial disbandment in the early 1980s, Burke emerged as a go-to session drummer for acts like The Eurythmics, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Nancy Sinatra, Bob Dylan and Pete Townshend. He played in bands like The Romantics and Dramarama, and briefly stood in as The Ramones’ drummer for a pair of concerts in 1987 following the departure of Richie Ramone. According to Billboard, he used the stage name "Elvis Ramone."
During his eight-year (1980-1988) run with the Eurythmics, Burke performed on three albums with the group, including on their 1986 Grammy winning single “Missionary Man.” He also teamed up in 1983 with another ’80s punk icon, former (and again) Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, to form the group Chequered Past with vocalist Michael Des Barres, bassist Tony Sales and former Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison. Burke formed another all-star group in 2011 - the International Swingers - which featured another Sex Pistols refugee, bassist Glen Matlock, as well as Generation X guitarist James Stevenson and Supernaut singer Gary Twinn.
Blondie reunited in 1997 with Burke back behind the kit. They have remained an active touring entity as recently as 2024.
“Since the ’70s, I’ve been saying, ‘I’ll give Blondie another 18 months.’ It’s been over 40 years now,” he told Modern Drummer.
Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Blondie in 2006. He also launched the Clem Burke Drumming Project in recent years, which found the musician working with medical experts from Oxford and Cambridge to study how the brain and body functions while playing the drums.
“His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of,” Blondie wrote in their statement. Burke is survived by his wife Ellen, whom he married in 2002.
See Blondie's tribute to Clem Burke below.
Check out our selection of free stations streaming Blondie music at Live365.com.
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Article Image: A close-up of Clem Burke in 2008. (shiver_shi [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.)
