Clem Burke, best known as the drummer of Blondie, has died at age 70. A statement from the band said that his death follows a “private battle with cancer.”
“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 was recruited by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein to join Blondie in 1975 and he played on all of the band’s albums, including their 1976 self-titled debut and iconic record’s like 1978’s Parallel Lines and 1979’s Eat to the Beat. When Blondie disbanded in 1982 following The Hunter, Burke became an in-demand session drummer.
“A self-proclaimed ‘Rock & Roll survivalist,’ he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists, including Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Chequered Past, The Fleshtones, The Romantics, Dramarama, The Adult Net, The Split Squad, The International Swingers, L.A.M.F., Empty Hearts, Slinky Vagabond, and even the Go-Go’s,” the band wrote in their statement. “His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of.”
Burke joined Blondie when it reformed in the 1990s and released five more records between 1999 and 2017.
Born Clement Anthony Bozewski on November 24, 1954, Burke followed in the footsteps of his drummer father while coming of age in Bayonne, New Jersey. Left-handed but playing a right-handed kit (like his hero Ringo Starr), a teenage Burke played in some cover bands while marching in a drum corps. He moved to New York and teamed up with Harry and Stein. “My quest was to find my David Bowie, my Jim Morrison or my Mick Jagger to front a band,” Burke told Tidal in 2022. “I was emphatic about that. I needed to work with people that I felt had that sort of charisma and creativity.”
Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 alongside bandmates Harry, Stein, founding keyboardist Jimmy Destri and bassist Gary Valentine and guitarist Frank Infante.
Last year, Burke performed as part of the group Lust For Life, an Iggy Pop tribute project. He also played in the band Tall Poppy Syndrome, which featured Members of the Bee Gees, The Jigsaw Seen, and Strangers in a Strange Land.
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