Clem BurkeThe drummer for BlondeHas died, announced the group Monday morning, he was 70 years old and died according to what is described by the surviving group members as a “private struggle with cancer.”
A statement attributed to co -founders Debbie Harry And Chris Stein revealed death on social media and said it was “with deep sadness that we forward news that our beloved friend and bandmate Clem passed away was not only a drummer; he was heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy and passion for music was unsurpassed, and his contribution to our noise and success. to know him. ”
The group’s statement continued, “Clem’s influence extended far beyond Blondie. A self -proclaimed” Rock & Roll Survivalist “, he played and collaborated with many iconic artists, including Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, checked past, The Romantics, The Fleshtons, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones, The Fleshtones. go-go’s.
We expand our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends and fans around the world, “Harry and Stein’s statement continued.” His heritage will live on through the huge amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched on. When we navigate in this deep loss, we ask for integrity during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr. Burke. “It signed” Debbie, Chris and the whole Blondie family. “
Blondie was founded by Harry and Stein in 1974, and Burke quickly came on board as the group’s second drummer in 1975 and was considered an original member given the short term for its predecessor. The group’s first single, “X-crime,” came out in June 1976, and their debut album followed at the end of that year. Burke stayed with the group through their breakout success with 1978’s “Parallel Lines” album and their first division in 1982, and agreed to a series of reunions that began in 1997.
A reformed edition of the band, with Stein on the page, performed at the Coachella festival 2023. Their last show with Burke was June 19, 2024 in Belfast. The last album released was “Pollinator” 2017, although Blondie was said to have been at work with new material.
Blondie’s First Single to Crack The Billboard Hot 100 Was Also The Group’s Biggest: “Heart of ice cream” Went Right to No. 1 in 1979. Three More No. 1 Smashes followed: “Call Me” and “The Tide is High” in 1980 ,, and “Rapture” in 1981. No other singles cracked the top 10 in the us, although “one way or ankher” and “Dreaming” Came Closest, at Nos. 24 and 27, respective.
In the UK, Chart Success came earlier, with “Denis”, “(I am always affected by yours) presence, dear” and signature song “Hanging on the Phone” all who make the top 10 1978 before “Heart of Glass” who also reaches no. 1 there.
The indelible brand that Burke left was based on his mastery of an over-powered, pummeling style for drum-a trail that married Verve of Gene crucify to the violence in Keith Moon, all while maintaining a sense of power-pop-expulsion-and even disco ”
“Moon was one of my big trumping impacts with Ringo Starr and session drummer like Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer, the guy who famous played at Eddie Cochran’s ‘Something otherwise’ and Little Richard’s Speciality (Records),” Burke said Amount Author Ad Amorosi 2022, as the band posts a retrospective boxed set. “My drum connected the dots as far as creating a texture in their arrangement and the sound from the band at that time. It was pretty raw – only Gary (Valentine, the bassist who left 1977), Chris and myself with Debbie in front. It gave me a lot of room to experiment.”
More to come …
