Clem Burke, the drummer for 1970s new wave band BLONDIE, has died aged 70 following a “private battle with cancer”, the band’s spokesperson has confirmed to the BBC.
Named one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, his energetic fills and melodic flourishes elevated UK number one hits like Call Me, The Tide Is High, Atomic and Heart Of Glass – with Burke deftly switching between punk, reggae, disco and hip-hop grooves.
In a long and varied career, he also played with Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, THE RAMONES, EURYTHMICS and TAKE THAT‘s Mark Owen.
“Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie,” his bandmates said in a tribute posted on Facebook.
The band made their name in New York punk clubs such as CBGB, alongside contemporaries such as TALKING HEADS, TELEVISION, and PATTI SMITH and released their self-titled debut album in 1976.