Clem Burke obit

Blondie drummer Clem Burke dead at 70

 

He was not on the list.

Blondie have announced the death of drummer Clem Burke, aged 70, following a battle with cancer.

In a statement, Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein announced: “It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer.”

They continued: “Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie. 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.”

The statement noted how his “influence extended far beyond Blondie”, explaining how his career also included work with 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 the Go-Go’s.

“His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of,” the Blondie duo added.

The statement concluded: “We extend our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr Burke.”

Although Burke wasn’t a founding member of Blondie, he joined the band in 1975 and played a pivotal role in their rise to fame as well as contributing to every record. Following their breakup in 1982, Burke became one of the most in-demand figures in rock ‘n’ roll, performing with bands such as the Ramones while Blondie was on hiatus.

In 1997, he reunited with Blondie after the band spent 15 years away. During the second chapter of their career, Burke made another five albums with the group, with the group’s most recent offering being 2017’s Pollinator.

Outside of Blondie, Burke toured the United Kingdom in March 2024 with his side project, Lust For Life. The band, which also included Glen Matlock and Kevin Armstrong, performed the music of Iggy Pop. Burke had previously been in Slinky Vagabond and the International Swingers with Sex Pistols co-founder Matlock.

Last year, during an interview with Psychedelic Baby Mag, Burke looked ahead to the future, revealing that Blondie had finished work on a new record and that he had almost completed writing a memoir. The drummer shared: “Regarding my upbringing and other questions about Blondie, I can tell you that I’ve nearly completed my memoir, which will be published by Hachette in the States and HarperCollins in the UK soon. Also, we’ve recorded a new Blondie album scheduled for early 2025.”

Reflecting on the band’s iconic career with their official website in 2003, Burke spoke proudly of their material before explaining why ‘X Offender’ is the song that he considers his favourite. The track, released in 1976, was their debut single and changed the course of Burke’s life forever. For that reason, he held a deep sentimental attachment to ‘X Offender’ which was unmatched in terms of material by Blondie.

The drummer explained: “I really like ‘X Offender’. It really means a lot to me because it was a song that opened up the door for the band in general and also showed the community we were involved in at the time, which was the whole CBGB New York underground, that we were able to make a record because when we went in and did ‘X Offender’, it wasn’t a facsimile of our live performance, it was set out to be done as a production, as a homage like Phil Spector whatever and I feel we really achieved something with that record.”

Burke also recollected hearing it in CBGBs, Blondie’s spiritual home for the first time, which was an out-of-body experience for the musician, adding, “The first time I heard that on the jukebox at CBGBs was a really elating moment for me, more so than hearing it on the radio. Knowing that someone went to the jukebox and played the song and hearing it in the background – I’m big on hearing songs in the background while other things are going on and seeing what it creates. I like ‘Rapture’ a lot too.”

The drummer most recently toured with Blondie last summer, performing at a series of outdoor shows and festivals in Europe. Their last UK tour took place in 2022 with special guest Johnny Marr, who has paid tribute to Burke following his death, writing on X, “Rest in peace, Clem. A musical great and one of the good guys.”

Last July, Blondie announced the cancellation of their tour dates for August and September in North America. They wrote on social media: “This was a hard decision to make, and we understand how disappointing this news is for everyone.”

Burke is survived by his wife, Ellen.