# RIP Clem Burke, drummer from Blondie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 7, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746 "2025-04-07T16:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/1 "2025-04-07T16:58:05Z")
Clem Burke, drummer for Blondie, Iggy Pop, and (for a couple shows) the Ramones died after a long battle with cancer. Loved his work, from what I have heard he was a great guy. He (or the person who handles his social media at least) did give me a like once. > **[Drummer Clem Burke, the 'Heartbeat of Blondie,' Dead at 70](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/clem-burke-blondie-drummer-dead-obituary-1235311703/)** > > Clem Burke, the longtime drummer for Blondie who played a key role in the New Wave movement, has died at the age of 70. [https://youtu.be/SUNW29veHS8?si=zm2aFq0b5eAxSLVB](https://youtu.be/SUNW29veHS8?si=zm2aFq0b5eAxSLVB) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/2 "2025-04-07T17:11:20Z")
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the song below. Written and sung by Iggy Pop, and featuring Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) on guitar, Nigel Harrison (Blondie) on bass, and Clem Burke on drums. This song, which talks about love, loss, drugs, teenage ennui, and contains a pageful of nonsense lyrics, is the greatest rock and roll song ever produced. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wS8fSGSkO5Q/hqdefault.jpg "Iggy Pop - Repo Man with lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8fSGSkO5Q) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/3 "2025-04-07T20:49:02Z")
We should give him his correct honorific - Dr Clem Burke. He was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contributions to study by sport scientists about the energy and effort that goes into musicians performing on stage. > **[Drummers 'are as fit as elite athletes'](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-07-25/drummers-are-as-fit-as-elite-athletes/451892)** > > Researchers have found drummers are likely to be as fit as a long distance runner or premier league football player. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/4 "2025-04-07T20:59:05Z")
Man, I’m gonna miss the man behind the plexiglass. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/5 "2025-04-08T04:39:54Z")
He was part of the soundtrack of my teenage years. RIP, Elvis Ramone! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/6 "2025-04-08T16:14:06Z")
My fave Clem-heavy song is _[Dreaming](https://youtu.be/TU3-lS_Gryk)_. In the liner notes for _The Best of Blondie_ it’s said that it was basically a drum solo. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-clem-burke-drummer-from-blondie/1016746/7 "2025-04-08T21:16:07Z")
Thanks for posting that. What an absolute clinic.