R.I.P. Clem Burke (1954 - 2025)

Yesterday I heard that Clem Burke, Blondie's one and only drummer, died of cancer. One day before my own band will play Blondie's 'Call Me' for the first time in rehearsal. I will speak a short word in commemoration before we do so.

Clement Anthony Burke joined Blondie in 1975 at the age of 20. He was there during all the ever bigger ups, the downs and the new up and the period after that when the band could enjoy the fame that comes with longevity.

Blondie sailed into the world on the wave of punk music coming out of New York City and its punk haunt CBGBs. Together with The Ramones, Patti Smith Group, Television, Talking Heads and others they were the vanguard of degraded hipness. Some of these artists had decades of success, others faded.

Burke was part of the success that started over here in 1978 with the band's first and only number 1 hit   'Denis'. Many hits followed, until the charts were void of Blondie songs after 'Maria' in 1999.  Burke played on them all. Where Blondie was a till of musicians that came and went, Burke was there supporting Debbie Harry and, later in the studio only, Chris Stein always. For 50 years. He also drummed in The Ramones for a very short spell and in The Romantics for 14 years, way long after that band scored its two hit singles and many others bands and artists.

Ms. Harry turns 80 this year. So, it may well be that Burke's demise spells the end of Blondie. But then, even Charlie Watts was replaceable. In the meantime, whenever I play my old Blondie albums or singles, it will be Clem Burke I hear playing his skins and cymbals. Thank you for the music, Mr. Burke.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght