Clem Burke, Iconic Blondie Drummer and Punk Rock Powerhouse, Dies at 70
Clem Burke, the legendary drummer best known for powering the heartbeat of Blondie, has died at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. A foundational force behind the band’s rise to global fame in the late 1970s and beyond, Burke’s stylish, energetic drumming helped define the sound of an era.
Burke first joined Blondie in the mid-1970s, helping transform the group into a genre-defying powerhouse that melded punk, new wave, and pop. While he never took pen to paper on the band’s lyrics, his musicianship alongside frontwoman Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein was essential to Blondie’s creative engine.
From Blondie’s earliest days playing New York City’s iconic CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, to global hits like Heart of Glass, Call Me, and Atomic, Burke’s influence was unmistakable. His precision, power, and versatility allowed the band to experiment across 11 albums, shaping the soundtrack of a generation.
Born Clement Anthony Bozewski in Bayonne, New Jersey, Burke was raised on the sounds of British rock — a devotion to the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Who which remained a touchstone throughout his life. He began playing drums left-handed on a right-handed kit, emulating his idol Ringo Starr, and honed his skills in marching bands before making his way to the New York music scene.
In 1975, he answered an ad placed by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein searching for a drummer with “freak energy.” He was soon part of a lineup that would ignite the new wave movement, releasing their self-titled debut in 1976. Though it struggled in the U.S., it made waves in the UK, establishing Blondie as a quirky, edgy act with 60s flair and modern urgency.
Their breakout came with Plastic Letters and Parallel Lines (1978), which produced chart-toppers like Denis and Hanging on the Telephone. With Burke’s tight rhythms anchoring hits like Sunday Girl and Heart of Glass, Blondie’s commercial success skyrocketed — especially in the UK.
But by 1982, internal tensions and burnout led to the group’s breakup. “I don’t think that when the band stopped anybody really cared,” Burke later reflected. “It was almost like a relief.”
Never one to rest, Burke remained active in music, collaborating with a who’s-who of rock icons including Iggy Pop, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, and even Bob Geldof. He joined supergroups like Chequered Past and the International Swingers and famously played live with the Ramones as “Elvis Ramone.”
When Blondie reunited in 1997, Burke was back behind the kit. He remained a core member for the next 27 years, recording five more albums and touring extensively.
Beyond his musical prowess, Burke also explored the physical and psychological toll of drumming. In 2008, he co-founded the Clem Burke Drumming Project with British scientists, helping prove that high-energy rock drumming can match the intensity of elite athletic performance.
In Rolling Stone’s ranking of the 100 greatest drummers, Burke earned the No. 61 spot — a nod to his undeniable influence on modern rock percussion.
Clem Burke is survived by his wife, Ellen, a former nurse, whom he married in 2002. His rhythm, legacy, and tireless spirit will echo through music history.
