Clem Burke, the drummer whose backbeats powered Blondie to huge chart success across multiple decades, has died aged 70.
He died following what his bandmates Debbie Harry and Chris Stein called “a private battle with cancer”, in a tribute posted to Instagram.
They added: “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 … His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Burke was only one of three band members, alongside Harry and Stein, to play on every one of Blondie’s 11 studio albums. Together the group defined the American new wave sound of the 1970s and 1980s, scoring six UK No 1 hits and four in the US, including Heart of Glass and The Tide Is High.
Outside of his work with Blondie, Burke played in supergroups such as the International Swingers, Slinky Vagabond and Magic Christian, and guested with artists as varied as the Ramones, Eurhythmics, Bob Dylan and Nancy Sinatra.
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