Blondie Drummer Clem Burke Dead at 70
Posted on: April 8th, 2025
Clem Burke, longtime drummer of Blondie, has died at the age of 70.
According to a statement from the band released on Monday, Burke passed away "following 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 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. Coming up in the thriving New York punk scene and a mainstay at legendary venue CBGB, the New Jersey-born Burke imbued several genres of rock and pop into his playing style. "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."
(In Memoriam: November 24, 1954 - April 6, 2025)
According to a statement from the band released on Monday, Burke passed away "following 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 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. Coming up in the thriving New York punk scene and a mainstay at legendary venue CBGB, the New Jersey-born Burke imbued several genres of rock and pop into his playing style. "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."
(In Memoriam: November 24, 1954 - April 6, 2025)