Backbeats Blondie, who strengthened the great graphic success for decades for decades, died at the age of 70.
Burke’s group friends Debbie Harry and Chris Stein said that he died after “a special war with cancer” in a tribute sent to Instagram.
“Clem was not just a drummer; it was Blondie’s heartbeat. His talent, energy and passion for music were unique, and his contributions to our voice and success, live spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid working ethics, touched everyone who has the privilege of recognizing it.”
Burke was one of the only three group members with Harry and Stein to play in each of Blondie’s 11 studio albums. Together, the group described the American new wave sound of the 1970s and 1980s, scored six 1 and four goals in the United States, Glass of Glass and tide high.
In addition to his work with Blondie, he played in super groups such as Burke, International Swingers, Slinky Vagabond and Magic Christian and was strengthened with various artists such as Ramones, Eurythmics, Bob Dylan and Nancy Sinatra.
Before moving to New York, Burke, who was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, engaged in local caps groups and drum corps, in 1975, the group’s original drummer Billy O’Connor joined the auditions for Blondie to replace. “My mission was to find my David Bowie, Jim Morrison or Mick Jagger to prevent a group,” he said in 2022.
He had previously joined the auditions for the group that would record his first album for Patti Smith. “He asked me who my favorite drumcum was… I said John Bonham, and I think this could have been the wrong answer,” he remembered.
Blondie released the first single X-Hissed in 1976, but it took some time for success, Stein and Harry then trusted Burke as the motivating force in the group and convinced Harry not to leave. “He really wanted to get out of New Jersey,” he said.
His first graphic achievements were hanging on abroad, Australia in England, with songs such as Denis, and on the phone, but in 1979, the group was swept with global of Global of Glass, including the domestic USA, to global fame. It was strengthened by a drum machine, but Burke was Sanguine about this development: “I think it was threatening at first, but I couldn’t find myself in the case of a drum machine.”
Like the whole group, Burke was drawn to New York’s cosmopolitanism in the late 70s, stolen sensual, shocking disco with high -paced Punk rhythms or equal charisma. “Whether New York Dolls, Velvet Underground or Shangri-Las, we all had a common aesthetics,” he said. Hitler continued with Call Me introduced by a rolling but sensitive Burke drum fill – and the atomic and tide, a masterclass in the bell coup, high, the group’s entering the group. Three singles were 1s in one after another in England.
The success of the group was adapted with the 1982 albums The Hunter and they left later. Burke, Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend (“A real gentleman… a dream took place”, said Burke) and Joan Jett. He also worked with the former sex pistols guitarist Steve Jones in the past, and then met with Glen Matlock to Another Super Group about the pistol, International Swingers.
He played live with Ramones – not a happy place ”and created various other super groups and rock’n’roll clothes, including empty hearts. The connection with Iggy Pop started when Blondie wandered with her in the late 1970s – Burke later visited the support group and in recent years Burke, Matlock and Katie Puckrik and Pop’s Life for Life album. In fact, a Blondie tribute action appeared with Bootleg Blondie, and his career continued with the group.
In 1997, Blondie reformed for concerts and returned to the studio with victory: 1999 album No Exit reached the UK no. 3 and contained another 1 single, Maria. They continued the tours and released four more studio albums.
Among those who paid tribute to Burke was Nancy Sinatra, one of the creative partners: “My heart was shattered. As a member of Clem Blondie, it was a symbol, but it was also an important part of my group.
Gerald Casale from Devo said: “The unique style and the New York City ‘Cool’ set the performance standard for decades.”
