Clem Burke, the influential drummer for 1970s new wave band Blondie, has died at the age of 70 following a private battle with cancer, the band’s spokesperson confirmed to the BBC. Burke, who was named one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, passed away on, Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Burke joined Blondie in 1975, replacing original drummer, Billy O’Connor, and played on all 11 of the band’s studio albums, from their self-titled debut in 1976 through their final album in 2017. His energetic fills and melodic flourishes were essential to UK number one hits like “Call Me,” “The Tide Is High,” “Atomic,” and “Heart of Glass,” with Burke skillfully transitioning between punk, reggae, disco, and hip-hop grooves.
His bandmates, founders Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, paid tribute to Burke on Facebook, writing that Burke’s talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and that he was a source of inspiration on and off the stage.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Burke once recalled that his earliest memory was “playing my father’s kit along to the Four Seasons.” Before joining Blondie in 1974, he built his skills by playing in marching bands and cover groups. From the beginning, he envisioned his role as something more than just keeping time.
Last year, he shared with Mixdown magazine that he had always admired drummers like Hal Blaine, known as Phil Spector’s go-to session drummer, and Earl Palmer, who worked with artists like Little Richard and Fats Domino. He expressed his aspiration to emulate their musicality and versatility, striving to contribute to a song rather than detract from it.
Blondie made their name in New York punk clubs such as CBGB, alongside contemporaries like Talking Heads, Television, and Patti Smith. However, it was 1978’s “Parallel Lines” that propelled them to mainstream success, featuring new wave hits like “One Way Or Another” and the disco-influenced “Heart of Glass.”
Recording the drum track for “Heart Of Glass” proved challenging. Producer Mike Chapman wanted to synchronize Burke’s playing to a Roland drum machine, an experimental technique that required Burke to play each drum individually before assembling the rhythm track over an entire week. Chapman later recalled to the Wall Street Journal that by the end of the session, Burke “was ready to kill me.”
When Stein became critically ill in 1982, Blondie disbanded temporarily. During this hiatus, Burke played with US rock band The Romantics and collaborated with numerous artists, including Pete Townshend, Joan Jett, Sex Pistol Steve Jones, and The Ramones, for whom he adopted the stage name Elvis Ramone.
Burke reunited with Blondie when they reformed in 1997, helping the band achieve their sixth UK number one single with the anthemic “Maria” in 1999. Debbie Harry highlighted the importance of having original members back together, telling BBC News in 2021 that without Burke, Stein, and herself, their legacy would have been diluted.
Beyond his musical career, Burke devoted considerable time to studying the physical and psychological effects of drumming. This research led to the establishment of the Clem Burke Drumming Project in 2008, which demonstrated that drummers can reach the same physical exertion levels as professional athletes. His contributions to this field earned him an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire in 2011.
Throughout his long and varied career, Burke also performed with Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Eurythmics, Nancy Sinatra, and Take That’s Mark Owen, among others. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Blondie in 2006, recognizing his significant impact on rock music.
Burke made his final appearance with Blondie at Northern Ireland’s Belsonic festival last summer, still wearing his iconic CBGB t-shirt as a testament to his punk rock roots. Blondie continued to perform and record throughout the decades, with the band playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage as recently as 2023.
Harry and Stein concluded their tribute saying, “Godspeed, Dr Burke.”
