Profiles: Clem Burke

Clem Burke was born Clement Anthony Bozewski on the 24th of November 1954 in Bayonne, New Jersey, to Antoinette (nee Terracciano) and Clement J. Bozewski, also a professional drummer. His early experiences on the drum kit began in the late 1960s and early 1970s playing in various New Jersey cover bands. He was also a member of the St Andrew’s Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps in Bayonne. Burke remembers: “My earliest memory is playing my father’s kit along to the Four Seasons. For all of us East Coast kids they were the local heroes.” In the ‘My View’ doc available on YouTube, he said: “I feel like the drums kind of have chosen me. My dad was a drummer so it’s probably in my DNA somewhere.” He also said on the ‘Live From My Drum Room’ podcast: “My background with the Drum and Bugle Corps certainly was an education. I learned basic rudiments and the endurance of marching and playing drums. I actually wound up on rudimental bass drum in the end, which is pretty rigorous. […] I think maybe Billy Cobham was a rudimental bass drum player. I certainly got some of my chops there. Simultaneously, I was in my rock and roll bands in high school as well. But the Drum Corps background helps tremendously – a lot of rigorous exercising, repetitiveness, memory ’cause you’re not really reading, you have to memorize your charts.”

Growing up close to New York, he witnessed the golden age of doo-wop, the emergence of early rock and roll, the heyday of Motown soul, the rise of Velvet Underground and the explosion of the CBGB’s scene. All those influences surfaced later in Burke’s drumming style. He cited Hal Blaine (session drummer featured on 150 US top 10 hits, 40 of which went to number one), Keith Moon (The Who), Ringo Starr (The Beatles) and Earl Palmer (Little Richard, Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra) as his influences: “I always appreciated drummers like Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer who were consummate studio musicians and had the kind of musicality and versatility that I aspired to. I wanted to be able to contribute to the song rather than detract” – Burke told Mixdown. When asked about his influences by ukmusicreviews.co.uk, he said: “I would firstly have to say The Beatles. They were a massive influence on everyone who either heard them or saw them. Basically, the Beatles enlightened everyone in the USA about the real roots of rock and roll which obviously included the likes of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran. All of those people are still very influential to me. Then I would have to mention the whole British Invasion – The Who, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and then of course David (Bowie), who was probably one of the biggest influences on everyone who was in Blondie. I would also have to mention The Velvet Underground together with the girl groups such as The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las. Then, as we come forward into modern music, Kraftwerk were a big influence on ‘Heart Of Glass’“.

Clem Burke was left-handed but he played a right-handed kit with his right hand leading, however, he would start fills with his left hand, just like Ringo Starr does. He remembers: “I never did [switch to a left-handed kit]. Even when we would play at CBGB with Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers headlining and I would use Jerry Nolan’s drum kit (Jerry was the drummer in New York Dolls). He played a left-handed kit but I would move it around to the right-handed kit.”

As far as the CBGB scene, Burke said: “When we all were playing at CBGB – The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Patty Smith – I think we were influencing one another because we were all in the audience for each other’s shows early on and picking up on different things that people were doing.”

Having moved to New York in 1975, Burke had been in a band called Sweet Revenge, and auditioned for Patti Smith (the band that went on to record the album “Horses“, to be exact) before replacing Blondie’s original drummer, Billy O’Connor. This is how he remembered the Patti Smith audition: “She asked me who my favourite drummer was. I said John Bonham, and I think that might’ve been the wrong answer.”

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  Blondie in 1975, L-R: G. Valentine, D. Harry, C. Stein, C. Burke

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  Blondie in 1975 or 1976, L-R: J. Destri, D. Harry, C. Stein, C. Burke, G. Valentine

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  The ad in the Village Voice answered by Clem Burke (mid March 1975)

Although he was eventually successful in auditioning for Blondie, the band’s existence at that early stage certainly wasn’t all roses as they were plagued by line-up changes. Bassist Fred Smith left to join Television while guitarist Ivan Kral was recruited by Patti Smith. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein were close to giving up on the group but Stein credits Burke’s enthusiasm as the force that convinced them not to. He explained that in ‘My View’: “As a drummer, I was looking for the person that was gonna front my band. I wanted a person that had the creativity, the charisma, the energy of David Bowie, Mark Bolan, Jim Morrison. I knew that Debbie and Chris had something special. I guess I saw the future in a way when I met [them]. My musical future.” Burke’s drive also manifested itself in recommending Gary Valentine to play bass. The drummer also told MOJO Magazine: “I tried to get people motivated. I thought there was definitely something there, with the songs, and of course, Debbie’s charisma and talent was obvious to me. We all had a common aesthetic, whether it be the New York Dolls, or the Velvet Underground, or the Shangri-Las. So we had a commonality amongst our musical influences, which was really not the norm at the time.”

The band released their first single (“X-Offender“) and album (“Blondie“) in 1976, however, mainstream success didn’t come until 1978. The story of Blondie is not the point of this article so let us just drop the titles of the signature songs featuring Clem Burke‘s drumming: “Denis” (1978), “Heart of Glass” (1978), “Hanging on the Telephone” (1978), “One Way Or Another” (1979), “Atomic” (1979), “Dreaming” (1979), “Call Me” (1980), “The Tide Is High” (1980), “Rapture” (1981). As most fans know, these songs alone display Burke’s versatility, covering such genres as rock and roll, disco, punk or reggae. It was only confirmed by the albums they were taken from: Blondie (1976), Plastic Letters (1977), Parallel Lines (1978), Eat to the Beat (1979), and Autoamerican (1980). 

At the height of Blondie’s career Burke showcased a Premier Resonator kit, which was featured in some of the band’s classic videos and TV appearances. Burke said on the ‘Live From My Drum Room’ podcast: “I got my endorsement deal with Premier due to the success of the band in the UK. On the early tours, I was using a Premier loaner kit so I really, really liked them a lot.”

The album finishing the band’s incredible first run was The Hunter (1982), which was slightly less commercially successful, and the cracks within the band were already evident. Burke said in the ‘My View’ doc: “I think Blondie started to fall apart as soon as we got successful. […] When we stopped I was crushed. We had a full UK tour booked and it all just came to a crashing halt. I remember sitting in my car in front of my dad’s house and just staring into space wondering where it was gonna go from here.”

As much as the break-up of Blondie was painful to Clem Burke, it did open other doors for him. He had already done some work outside of his main band before the split as he played drums on his bandmate Jimmy Destri’s solo album “Heart on a Wall” and Eurythmics’ “In the Garden” (both released in 1981). After 1982, burke took a deep dive into session work and musical collaborations. He said: “When Blondie stopped, I didn’t think that was gonna be the end for me.” In 1983, he formed the group Chequered Past with Sex Pistols’ guitarist Steve Jones, bass guitarist and vocalist Tony Sales, singer/actor Michael Des Barres, and former Blondie bandmate Nigel Harrison. He also recorded and/or toured with the likes of The Romantics, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Dramarama, or The Ramones (as Elvis Ramone). He commented on the latter engagement: “Not a happy place to be”.

The late 1990s saw the return of Blondie. The band reformed in 1997 featuring Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri, Gary Valentine, a bit later Nigel Harrison and, of course, Clem Burke. A reunion tour followed in 1998 and early 1999. The comeback album, titled “No Exit” (recorded as a four-piece, without Valentine, Harrison or former guitarist Frank Infante), came out that same year and turned out very successful, while the first single “Maria” became Blondie’s (and Burke’s) sixth UK number one single. “That song was a big hit for us […] and it was perfect to begin our so-called comeback, which is really what it was because we had stopped for almost 15 years. […] Our manifesto was to make new music. It wasn’t about just about getting back together to play the hits so wee took our time to make a new album at the time. We worked with producer Craig Leon, who worked on our very first single, so we kind of came full circle” – Burke told John DeChristopher in 2022.

Four more albums and a string of successful tours followed in the first two decades of the new millennium. However, Clem Burke would not have been Clem Burke if he had not saught extracurricular activities. Those included touring and/or recording with Nancy Sinatra (in this case, he got to play his hero Hal Blaine’s parts), Wanda Jackson, Sonny Vincent, or Hugh Cornwell (formerly of The Stranglers). He is also featured on Kathy Valentine’s (The Go-Go’s) 2005 solo album. He had this to say about doing so much work outside of Blondie: “With drumming, you kind of have to keep doing it. You don’t really want to lose your chops, so you want to be prepared to play when you have to play. It works both ways: I help people out by playing with them, and they help me keep my abilities together.”

In 2006, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Blondie. He also came in at 61 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 best rock drummers.

In 2007, he was a member of Slinky Vagabond (with David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick and Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock), Magic Christian and Plimsouls. In 2011, he formed another supergroup, The International Swingers. Again, with Glen Matlock, and James Stevenson of Generation X. He told ukmusicreviews.co.uk: “Doing that really brings you back to the reason why you became a musician and why you started a band. It brings home the comradery, the friendship, the creative give and take, the spontaneity of performance. It all comes into play and solidifies your relationship and friendship. I like to think that ninety-nine percent of the people that I have worked with over the years are now my friends. Glen [Matlock] is a great guy, he is a great songwriter; we have known each other since way back in the 70s, we have always kept in touch, and I played a couple of his solo gigs that he was doing.”

Around the same time, he co-founded the band The Split Squad, which released an album in 2014. That same year saw the creation of the band The Empty Hearts with The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton and Small Faces and Faces pianist Ian McLagan. In 2017, Burke became a member of L.A.M.F., a Johnny Thunders tribute featuring Glen Matlock, Walter Lure (The Heartbreakers), and Mike Ness (Social Distortion). In 2019, the drummer toured with Blondie tribute act Bootleg Blondie. In December 2021, he filled in on drums for Gina Schock during the Go-Go’s show celebrating their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was dubbed ‘honorary Go-Go’ by the band members. He had this to say on his RRHOF experience: “Funny enough, I’ve been involved with and played with four bands that are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Most recently, my friends Annie and Dave from the Eurythmics are being inducted this year [2022]. I filled in for my friend Gina Shock in The Go-Go’s. And then, famously, I briefly played with The Ramones, so Blondie, Ramones, The Go-go’s and Eurythmics are great to see in the Hall.” 

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  Burke with The Go-Go's, filling in for Gina Schock (source: The Go Go's social media)

A project of Burke’s that requires a separate mention is the Clem Burke Drumming Project founded in 2008 with Professor Steve Draper (Hartpury University) and Professor Marcus Smith (University of Chichester). The purpose was to investigate the physical, mental and health benefits of drumming. It resulted in Burke being awarded a Doctor of Music by the University of Gloucester (2011) and University of Chichester (2022) for his contribution to the arts and science. Burke commented in 2018: “The Clem Burke Drumming Project shows a positive spin on what it means to be a musician. The drum set is a prime example of how the body and mind are in sync when things are going right. Now it’s kind of moving away from the physicality more into what’s going on inside the brain.” Prof. Steve Williams from King’s College in London said: “Is there something about learning a new skill that can be visualized in the brain? If we learn that from this experiment, you could take this into all walks of life for people with dementia or maybe people with attention deficit.”

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  Prof. Marcus Smith, C. Burke, Prof. Steve Draper

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  C. Burke becomes Doctor of Music (2011)

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  C. Burke is Doctor of Music (2011)

The last Blondie project Clem Burke was involved in was the “Against The Odds 1974 – 1982” box set. It is a 10-LP or 8-CD set which includes all the six studio albums from the era plus session outtakes, B-sides, and demos. 124 studio tracks in total. He told John DeChristopher on the Live From My Drum Room podcast: “I actually came up with that title because having any kind of success in the music business is very much against the odds. When we look back with this archival box […] we had to go through all the stuff that was in the vault, especially the basic tracks and outtakes, which I really enjoyed listening to. It kind of brought me right back to that time and place. […] We enabled us to go deeper into the Blondie catalog.”

It seems like Burke came full circle with his main band in the final period of good health when he was fit to play (the box set was promoted by a concert tour), but in his interviews between 2022 and 2023, he would mention that Blondie were working on a new album so a posthumous release is not impossible.

Clem Burke was an official endorser of such brands as Zildjian cymbals, DW drums, Vic Firth sticks and Remo drumheads.

He died from cancer, reportedly on April 6, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Ellen.

Clem Burke‘s discography:

Blondie
Blondie (1976)
Plastic Letters (1977)
Parallel Lines (1978)
Eat to the Beat (1979)
Autoamerican (1980)
The Hunter (1982)
No Exit (1999)
The Curse of Blondie (2003)
Panic of Girls (2011)
Ghosts of Download (2014)
Pollinator (2017)

The Adult Net – The Honey Tangle (1989)
BP Fallon & The Bandits – Still Legal (2013)
Carla Olson – Have Harmony, Will Travel (2013)
Chequered Past – Chequered Past (1984)
The Delphines – The Delphines (1996)
Dramarama – Hi-Fi Sci-Fi (1993)

The Empty Hearts
The Empty Hearts (2014)
The Second Album (2020)

Eurythmics
In the Garden (1981)
Revenge (1986)

Iggy Pop – Zombie Birdhouse (1982)
The International Swingers – The International Swingers (2015)
Jimmy Destri – Heart on a Wall (1981)
Kathy Valentine – Light Years (2005)
Magic Christian – Evolver (2009)
Mark Owen – Green Man (1996)
Miss Derringer – Lullabies (2006)
Pete Townshend – White City: A Novel (1985)
The Plimsouls – Kool Trash (1998)

The Romantics
Made in Detroit (1993)
61/49 (2003)

Sonny Vincent, Arthur Kane, Rick Ballard – A Tribute To Mr. Rock’ Chuck Berry Tribute- Carol (2004)
The 69 Cats – Transylvanian Tapes (2014)
The Split Squad – Now Hear This… (2014)
Walter Lure – L.A.M.F. Live At The Bowery Electric (2017)

Touching tributes, which were proof of the respect Clem Burke enjoyed within the music community, started pouring in already on the day of his passing. Here are some of them:

Blondie: 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.

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. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

Clem’s influence extended far beyond Blondie. 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 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. As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr. Burke.

Chris Stein (Blondie’s founding member, guitarist and songwriter): We’re all still thinking about Clem. It’s been really triggering even though I was well aware of his being ill. We’ve known him for fifty years so in spite of various ups and downs it’s hard. Feels like I’ve heard from everyone I ever knew in the last few days. I can’t thank you all enough for supporting us for all this time and I know Clem is enjoying the engagement from the other side.

Jimmy Destri (Blondie’s keyboard player in the periods 1975 – 1982 and 1997 – 2004): I LOST A BROTHER TODAY. We had our ups and downs but I loved him and he will always live in my heart. He was an amazing talent and part of my family. Go in peace Clem.

DW: DW is sad to hear of the loss of the legendary drummer Clem Burke. Clem was a longtime part of the DW family and a close friend. Our deepest condolences to Clem’s family.

Premier Drums: We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Clem Burke, the heartbeat of Blondie. His extraordinary talent and unforgettable spirit will always remain with us. Thank you, Clem, for the beautiful memories and the lasting impact you’ve made on the drumming community and the wider music world.

Remo: Remo is deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary drummer Clem Burke. He leaves behind a legacy that will resonate through music for generations. All of us at Remo honor his life, legacy, and the rhythm he leaves behind.

University of Gloucester: We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Clem Burke, the drummer for Blondie and UoG Honorary Fellow. Burke received an honorary doctorate from UoG in 2011 following his involvement in a long study of the physical and psychological effects of drumming. The Clem Burke Drumming Project was founded in 2007 with Dr Steve Draper and Dr Marcus Smith, with the aim of investigating the physiological demands of rock and pop drumming. The studies showed that drummers can reach the same physical exertion as professional athletes.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Clem Burke was a versatile and distinctive drummer who played exactly what each song required – and, when called for, let loose with blistering punk rock energy. His range allowed the band to seamlessly move from the disco-infused beat of “Heart of Glass” to the reggae flow of “The Tide is High,” and his explosive rolls in “Dreaming” are percussion perfection.

The Go-Go’s: We are so saddened and heartbroken by the loss of the wonderful Clem Burke. He was a friend, a honorary bandmate and an amazing musician!. Thank you Clem for bestowing upon us your gifts and talents through the years. You will be sorely missed.

Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s, solo artist): Clem. What a privilege to have known you, so great working with you and how fun it was to sing along to your genius beat. May you RIP.

Nancy Sinatra: I just awakened to the devastating news that Clem Burke has left us far too soon. My heart is shattered. Clem became an icon as a member of Blondie, but he was also a important part of my band, the K.A.B. I was blessed to call him my friend. If I ever needed him, he was there. Always. Sending healing prayers and comfort to his widow, Ellen, his family, and all who loved him. Your life was beautiful, Clem, and I will never forget you or the times we shared. Your memory will live on in my heart and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world. Godspeed, dear friend. I love you.

The Ramones: “Farewell, Clem Burke aka Elvis Ramone. Condolences to his family, friends, fans and all past and present members of Blondie.”

The Romantics: It is with a heavy heart that we have learned that Clem Burke, Blondie Drummer and Rock Innovator, has passed away. Clem Burke, the powerhouse drummer best known for his work with Blondie and The Romantics amongst others, has passed away after his challenging battle with cancer. Born Clement Bozewski, Burke was a founding member of Blondie, bringing explosive energy and precision to hits like “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me.” His drumming helped define the sound of the late ’70s punk and new wave scenes. In addition to his decades with Blondie, Clem also played with The Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Eurythmics, The Romantics, The Empty Hearts and others. During the 1980s and 1990s, when Blondie was on a hiatus, Burke played drums for the Romantics (for whom Burke was the regular drummer between 1990 and 2004), A 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Burke was widely respected for both his artistry and passion. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, influence, and rhythm that will resonate for generations. R.I.P. Dr. Burke.

Dave Stewart (ex-Eurythmics, solo artist): Saying Goodbye to a wonderful friend is difficult for everyone and Clem had so many friends and comrades in the world of music. Clem just wanted to play and as much as possible, I’m sure he dreamt about drumming and he was a dream drummer to play with. […] Clem was my real introduction to NYC and he was v.excited to introduce me to the music club scene. We had already worked together on Eurythmics first album and become close friends so he was the obvious choice to ask when we came to make Revenge our 5th album. What an incredible drummer Clem he was and on our whole Revenge world tour and he would give such explosive performances I could hardly take my eyes off him. I am also a huge Blondie fan too and his drumming was so inventive on all their albums he made a massive contribution. As I said Clem just wanted to play and he loved Punk bands if he could he would play every night with his favorite bands big or small he would jump at the chance and he did. He was a true arbiter of taste, always immaculate, always true to himself and a wonderful human being to be around. Miss you Clem.

Dave Davies (The Kinks): I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon. May he rest in peace. Spectacular drumming. We were friends.

Tony Visconti (producer for David Bowie, Thin Lizzy and many others): Oh dear! Now Clem Burke is gone, just like that! We worked together a few times, but we also seemed to bump into each other many more times in New York and London. We always had something to talk about. He was such a great drummer and a very likeable chap. RIP Clem.

Jools Holland (ex-Squeeze, pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter): Very sad to hear we have lost Clem Burke the wonderful man and Blondie drummer. We first crossed paths in the punk boom of the late seventies. We kept in touch and he came to see Gilson and I when we were playing New York in 2018.

Tony Hadley (ex-Spandau Ballet, solo artist): So sad to hear about Clem Burke. My heart goes out to Clem’s family and friends. I first saw Blondie supporting Television at the Hammersmith Odeon in ’76. What an amazing band, and Clem Burke, wow, what an incredible drummer! From that moment on, he was my hero drummer, and I had the great pleasure of knowing him and meeting him over the years. What a lovely man, and such a loss to music. RIP.

Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran): I am so sad to hear that Clem has made his final exit. He was a real one of a kind and one of the greatest drummers in one of the greatest band’s of his generation. A drum roll rarely sounded better, his beats were solid as a rock and he always played with great panache. A truly special person, bursting with positive energy. My thoughts are with his family, friends, band and fans.

John Taylor (Duran Duran): Clem… It’s not often I am as saddened about the passing of a musical artist as I am Clem Burke. As a drummer he was phenomenal, just listen to him on ‘Call Me’ or ‘Heart of Glass’. Really everything he played had tight dynamic energy, like Keith Moon on a tightrope. And the loveliest of guys. I met Clem many times and he was always upbeat and happy to chat. Listening backstage at the Cruel World festival last year the Durans were all like, ‘What a rhythm section…’ He went out as hot as he came in. We will miss you Clem, thanks for the grooves.

Ian McCulloch (Echo & The Bunnymen): Clem was my favourite drummer of that whole massive New York and American Punk scene, a scene that he co-invented with his full throttle style, literally battering the drum skins into submission. But it was his pop sensibility and deftness of touch, the knowing of what the song was about and what it needed, which drum fill or drum roll, which hi-hat pattern or cymbal crash to use, and knowing when to use “the gap” that set him apart for me. And, of course, he had a unique feel because he loved his form of expression, and I think he’s like the Charlie Watts of his generation in some ways,and much further beyond just being any old drummer. Clem‘s drumming, especially on those incredible Blondie records, is special and perfect, just like those Blondie songs are. A brilliant brilliant drummer and, through getting to know him a little bit when I had the pleasure and honour of working with him a little while ago, a really lovely man. There are certain words that are overused and too easily applied to people that don’t warrant their definition, but Clem Burke will always live in the place reserved for a different kind of Angel. He is a real Icon… He is a true Star…Goodnight Godbless Clem…

The Stranglers: So sorry to hear about the passing of Clem Burke. We played with Blondie many times over the years, especially bonding with them and him on the long New Zealand/Australia jaunt we did together in 2012 where he proved himself to be affable, interesting company. Never short of opinion and always ready to share a nice glass of red, especially a pinot…he’d natter away like he’d known you all his life and was always fun to be around. He was also the loudest drummer I’ve ever heard and, if you walked behind him when Blondie were onstage, it was thunderous…but always on the money…with impeccable timing and power. Great drummer and gregarious company. Sad we won’t meet again Clem…at least, not for now… R.I.P mate.

Hugh Cornwell (ex-The Stranglers, solo artist): I had the great pleasure to play with Clem on tour in America a few times, he used to say to me: “I love playing with you, Hugh, you let me hit the drums.” Apparently he played triggered sample drums within a Perspex box with Blondie! He was great to tour with, easy going, friendly, always there to help with anything, and he just loved playing drums. He would play drums rather than do anything else in the world, apart from collecting Beatles stuff, of course. It surely is a sad day today, and I will never forget him.

The B 52’s: The music world has lost one of the greatest drummers today. And we lost a great friend. Rest in peace, Clem Burke

Kate Pierson (The B 52’s): What a fantastic drummer and great guy. Clem Burke from Blondiewill really be missed – we’ve done a lot of shows withBlondie and I could tell Clem loved what he did – drummer is the heartbeat of a band.

Gerald Casale (Devo): His unmatched style and New York City ‘cool’ set the performance standard for decades.

Garbage: So sad to hear you have left us Clem. I think we all somehow believed you were going to live forever. You have been so loved. Thank you for it all. You will be missed.

Todd Sucherman: Sad to hear the news about Clem Burke. RIP.

Sources:

mixdownmag.com.au
theguardian.com
mojo4music.com
clemburkedrummingproject.org
ukmusicreviews.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org
My View – Clem Burke – 15th September 2018 (available on YouTube)
Live From My Drum Room YouTube Podcast
The Strange Brew Podcast