Drumroll Ends: Blondie’s Clem Burke Dies at 70
Clem Burke, the relentless rhythmic force behind Blondie’s genre-blurring rise, has died at 70 following a private battle with cancer. The band confirmed his passing on Monday morning, a day after his death.
“Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie,” the band wrote. “His talent, energy, and passion for music was unmatched.” That sentiment captures the essence of Burke’s nearly five-decade run with the pioneering punk and new wave outfit.
Press play and let rhythm remind you why music matters.
From Bayonne to CBGB
Born Clement Anthony Bozewski in Bayonne, New Jersey, Burke joined Blondie in 1975, soon after the group’s formation by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. What followed was a thunderous ascent through the ranks of the downtown New York scene. Alongside The Ramones, Television, and Talking Heads, Blondie helped forge the sonic and stylistic DNA of punk at hallowed haunts like CBGB and Max’s Kansas City.
Burke’s frenetic yet finessed drumming propelled every Blondie album—from their gritty 1976 debut Blondie to 1978’s Parallel Lines, which launched the disco-infused chart-topper “Heart of Glass,” and on through Eat to the Beat (1979) and Autoamerican (1980). His playing was both anchor and ignition: technically sharp, emotionally raw, and always urgent.
A Career on Repeat
When Blondie disbanded in 1982, Burke remained musically restless. He collaborated with Eurythmics, Iggy Pop, the Plimsouls, and even joined a tribute act dedicated to Keith Moon‘s explosive drumming. In 1999, he returned for Blondie’s comeback album No Exit, featuring the U.K. No. 1 “Maria.” He stayed onboard through The Curse of Blondie (2003), Ghosts of Download (2014), and Pollinator (2017)—his final recorded work with the band.
Beyond the music, Burke was known for his humor, humility, and boundless energy. In an industry that burns out its brightest, he was a long-distance runner.
