Entertainment

Iconic Drummer Passes Away After Private Health Battle

Published

1 week ago

April 8, 2025

Clem Burke, the iconic drummer for 1980s-era band Blondie, has passed away after a private health battle.

He was 70.

Burke’s death from cancer was confirmed by the band’s singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein who founded Blondie with Burke in 1974.

“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,” Harry, 79, and Stein, 75, wrote on the band’s official Instagram account.

Other members of the band, including bass player Nigel Harrison and guitarist Frank Infante, have yet to release statements about Burke.

“Clem was not just a drummer. He was the heartbeat of Blondie,” Harry and Stein continued. “His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable.”

Their friend and fellow musician was a “a source of inspiration” both on and off-stage, they said.

“His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

The Bayonne, New Jersey native was born November 24th, 1954. He picked up drumming by the age of 10 and later honed his practice as a member of St Andrew’s Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps in Bayonne.

After being recruited by Harry and Stein to join Blondie, Burke was integral in keeping the group from disbanding after the departure of original bassist Fred Smith, who left to join Television.

He recruited his friend Greg Valentine to fill Smith’s role on bass and participated in all six of Blondie’s albums in the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the quartet fused punk rock with disco and new wave with pop rock and swelled radio airwaves with unforgettable riffs, like on the billboard toppers “One Way or Another” and “Dreaming.”

Blondie was twice nominated for Grammys, including for Video of the Year for the song “Eat to the Beat” (1982) and Best Historical Album in 2022, which spanned recordings from their early years.

Most recently, the band returned with its original members to release their final album “Pollinator” in 2017, in which Burke played drums.

Between albums, Burke played small parts in the iconic punk rock band The Ramones and shared the stage with other musical luminaries of his generation, including David Bowie and Bob Dylan.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Ellen Burke.

“A self-proclaimed ‘Rock & Roll survivalist,’ he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists, including Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Chequered Past, the Fleshtones, the Romantics, Dramarama, the Adult Net, the Split Squad, the International Swingers, L.A.M.F., Empty Hearts, Slinky Vagabond and even the Go-Go’s,” his bandmates said, the NY Post reported.

Harry and Stein added, “His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of.”

“We extend our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched,” the statement concluded. “As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr. Burke.”

WATCH:

God speed to one of the greatest drummers of all time, Blondie’s Clem Burke.

This entire drum beat should be put in The Louvre. pic.twitter.com/1KQ6XmsLbK

— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) April 7, 2025