Clem Burke, whose versatile drumming propelled the iconic rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes, has died. He was 70.
The band said in a statement on its website Monday that he died from cancer but no additional details were provided.
鈥淐lem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie,鈥 the band said in a statement. 鈥淗is talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable.鈥
The self-proclaimed 鈥渞ock & roll survivalist鈥 started playing the drums when he was 14 in his school orchestra but was kicked out for playing too loud, according to Blondiesa国际传媒 website. In the 1970sa国际传媒, he answered a band's ad in the Village Voice seeking a 鈥渇reak energy鈥 rock drummer, kicking off his decades-long career with lead singer Debbie Harry and the rest of his Blondie bandmates.
The band recorded its first album in 1976 and by the following year was touring with such icons as Iggy Pop and David Bowie. It became known as the most commercially successful band to emerge from a fertile New York rock scene that also produced Talking Heads and the Ramones.
In 2006 Burke and the other original members of Blondie were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after selling more than 42 million records, according to Blondie's website.
During the late 1970s and early 鈥80s, the band had eight Top 40 hits, including four No. 1s: 鈥淗eart of Glass,鈥 鈥淐all Me,鈥 鈥淭he Tide Is High鈥 and 鈥淩apture,鈥 which is regarded as the first No. 1 hit to feature rap. Theresa国际传媒 also a five-track 1975 album demo that includes 鈥淧latinum Blonde,鈥 a sort of band mission statement. But Burkesa国际传媒 mark was especially solidified with his rapid, powerful drumming at the start of 鈥淒reaming鈥 in 1979.
In 2022, after unearthing a New Wave treasure trove of reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes and records, the band created the box set with 124 tracks and 36 previously unissued recordings, demos, outtakes and remixed versions of Blondiesa国际传媒 initial six studio albums.
Burke reflected on the discovery in an Associated Press article: 鈥淲e never would have thought that we would still be here today. Looking back at our archives, itsa国际传媒 pretty amazing.鈥
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame described Burke in a post Monday on the social platform X as 鈥渁 versatile and distinctive drummer who played exactly what each song required 鈥 and, when called for, let loose with blistering punk rock energy.鈥
