Clem Burke: RIP

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Clem Burke the magnificent drummer from Blondie whose powerhouse beats and perfect pop culture vision drive the band. His combination of sixties beat greats and style given a punk power was the backbone to one of the greatest pop bands of all time.

On Blondies social media they posted:

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.

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.

Speaking to Louderthanwar in 2015 John Maher, Buzzcocks original drummer said this of Clem Burke:

He was the full package. He played brilliantly; he looked great and the way he set up his drum kit was cool (toms and cymbals all lay flat). An extremely talented showman. I’d never seen anyone else play like he did. When Blondie’s first album was released in 1976, I became obsessed with Clem (and maybe Debbie a little bit too!) He is a very musical drummer. I could listen to any track from the first three Blondie albums and identify it from the drum part alone. I learned a lot by playing along to the first Blondie album in my parent’s front room.

Clem was a huge influence. He was the first drummer I saw who not only played brilliantly but was entertaining to watch. Even non-drummers say so. That combination of skills, image and stage presence was something I’d never seen before. And thinking about it, I’m not sure I’ve seen it since.

That says it all.

Thoughts are with Clems family, band members and close friends.