Clem Burke: Blondie drummer dies at the age of 70

The music world has to accept another major loss: Clem Burke, the long-time drummer of the legendary New Wave band Blondie, died at the age of 70. The musician, who had been an integral part of the group since the beginning in the 1970s, succumbed to his cancer, as his bandmates announced in a moving message.

“With deep grief we share the news of the death of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke after a personal fight against cancer,” says the statement that singer Debbie Harry (79) and guitarist Chris Stein (75) published. “Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie.”

Clement Burke, born in November 1954, was one of the formative figures of the American punk and rock scene. Its dynamic play of play significantly influenced the unmistakable sound of blondie and contributed significantly to hits such as “Heart of Glass”, “Call Me” and “Atomic”. The music magazine “Rolling Stone” leads Burke to 61th place on his list of “100 biggest drummer of all time”.

Since the band’s beginning in 1974, Burke has remained a loyal member and was heard on all albums of Blondie, even if he was not a founding member. The last joint studio album “Pollinator” was released in 2017. “His talent, his energy and passion for the music were unsurpassed, and his contribution to our sound and success is immeasurable,” his bandmates appreciated his musical influence.

In the message, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein also emphasized his versatile musical activity: “His influence extended far beyond Blondie. As a self-proclaimed ‘Rock & Roll-Superpunitor’, he played and worked with numerous iconic artists.”

These included Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan (83), Bob Geldof (73) and Iggy Pop (77). His stylistic range and skills made him a sought -after studio musician who has left its mark on various genres for decades. For his services to rock music, Burke was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Blondie in 2006.