View source for Clem Burke

{{Short description|American drummer (1954–2025)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image             = Blondie drummer Clem Burke on July 11, 2008.jpg
| name              = Clem Burke
| caption           = Burke in 2008
| birth_name        = Clement Anthony Bozewski
| alias             = Clement Burke<br>Elvis Ramone
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1954|11|24}}
| birth_place       = [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2025|04|06|1954|11|24}}}}
| death_place       = 
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Punk rock]]|[[New wave music|new wave]]|[[hard rock]]|[[post-punk]]|[[garage rock]]|[[pop rock]]}}
| occupation        = Drummer
| instruments = Drums 
| years_active      = 1960s–2025
| current_member_of = 
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[Blondie (band)|Blondie]]|[[Chequered Past]]|[[The Fleshtones]]|[[The Romantics]]|[[Ramones]]|[[Dramarama]]|[[The Adult Net]]|[[The Split Squad]]|[[The International Swingers]]|L.A.M.F.|[[Slinky Vagabond]]|[[Go-Gos]]|[[The Empty Hearts]]|Lust for Life}}
| website           = 
}}

'''Clement Anthony Burke''' (né '''Bozewski'''; November 24, 1954 – April 6, 2025) was an American musician best known as the drummer for the band [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]]. He joined the band shortly after its formation in 1975 and remained with Blondie throughout the band's entire career until his death in 2025. He appeared on all of the band's albums with two of the founding members, [[Debbie Harry]] and [[Chris Stein]]. He was drummer for the [[Ramones]] for a brief time in 1987 under the name '''Elvis Ramone''', and played on albums by other artists, including [[Eurythmics]], [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Iggy Pop]]. He was a member of [[the Romantics]] from 1990 until 2004.

==Life and career==
[[File:Blondie1977.jpg|left|thumb|Burke (second from left) with Blondie in 1976]]
Clement Anthony Bozewski was born on 24 November 1954 in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]],<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Porter|first1=Dick|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tHT_AgAAQBAJ&q=%22Clement+Anthony+Bozewski%22&pg=PT92|title=Blondie: Parallel Lives|last2=Needs|first2=Kris|date=2017-02-13|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-780-8}}</ref><ref name = "RoSto" /> the son of Clement J. Bozewski and Antoinette (nee Terraciano). His father, a drummer who played in local clubs, taught him to drum from an early age and he played in a school marching band.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/clem-burke-obituary-drummer-and-beating-heart-of-blondie-lbjgntdpg |website=thetimes.com/uk |title=Obituary: Clem Burke: drummer and 'beating heart' of Blondie |date=10 April 2025 |access-date=11 April 2025 }}</ref>

His early experiences on the drum kit began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing in various New Jersey jam bands. Burke also gained percussion knowledge from his stint as a drummer in the [[List of defunct Drum Corps International member corps#Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps|St Andrew's Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps]] in Bayonne.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Roy Trakin |author2=Lexy Perez|date=2025-04-07 |title=Clem Burke, Blondie Drummer, Dies at 70 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/clem-burke-dead-blondie-drummer-1236183505/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> He was recruited by [[Debbie Harry]] and [[Chris Stein]] when [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] was first forming in 1974 and joined the band in early 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.blondie.net/gig_list.php |title=Blondie Gig List |publisher=Blondie |date=May 23, 2021 |access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref> He was a key figure in keeping the group together when Stein and Harry considered disbanding after their original bassist, [[Fred Smith (bassist)|Fred Smith]], departed to [[Television (band)|Television]]. Burke recruited his friend [[Gary Lachman|Gary Valentine]] to play bass. Burke's style of drumming was influenced by [[Hal Blaine]], [[Keith Moon]], [[Ringo Starr]] and [[Earl Palmer]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rip-her-to-shreds.com/archive_press_magazines_mojo.php|title=Blondie: Rip Her to Shreds|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|year=1998|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152033/http://www.rip-her-to-shreds.com/archive_press_magazines_mojo.php|archive-date=September 27, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During the 1980s and 1990s when Blondie was on hiatus, Burke played drums for [[the Romantics]] (for whom he was the regular drummer between 1990 and 2004),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canadianclassicrock.com/artist-roster/romantics/ |title=Canadian Classic Rock: The Romantics |access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://michiganrockandrolllegends.com/index.php/mrrl-hall-of-fame/372-romantics |title=MRRL Hall of Fame: Romantics |author=Gary Johnson |publisher=Michigan Rock and Roll Legends |date=October 26, 2011 |access-date=2021-05-23}}</ref> [[Pete Townshend]],<ref name="blondie1">{{cite web|url=http://www.blondie.net/meet-the-band/clem-burke/ |title=Clem Burke &#124; BlondieBlondie |publisher=Blondie.net |access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref> [[Bob Dylan]],<ref name="blondie1"/> [[Eurythmics]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurythmics-ultimate.com/revenge25-clem-burke-interview/ |title=Revenge25: Clem Burke Interview &#124; Ultimate Eurythmics |date=July 11, 2011 |publisher=Eurythmics-ultimate.com |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref> [[Dramarama (band)|Dramarama]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dramarama |title=Dramarama |publisher=TrouserPress.com |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref> [[the Fleshtones]], [[Iggy Pop]],<ref name="blondie1"/> [[Joan Jett]]<ref name="blondie1"/> and The Stranglers amongst others. 

He recorded with the line-up of [[Chequered Past]] in 1983 with [[Sex Pistols]] guitarist [[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]], former Blondie bandmate [[Nigel Harrison]], bass guitarist and vocalist [[Tony Sales]], and singer/actor [[Michael Des Barres]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Louis A. Bustamante, Barry L. Kramer |url=http://archive.blondie.net/clem_burke_biography.shtml |title=Clem Burke Biography |publisher=Archive.blondie.net |access-date=2011-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Allan Metz |url=http://www2.drury.edu/ametz/antbudof.htm |title=Clem Burke |publisher=Drury.edu |date=May 16, 1999 |access-date=2011-10-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719184205/http://www2.drury.edu/ametz/antbudof.htm |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1987, Burke sat in as drummer for the Ramones for two gigs, under the name "Elvis Ramone", on August 28 in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], and August 29 in [[Trenton, New Jersey]] at the punk club The City Gardens, after the sudden departure of [[Richie Ramone]].<ref name="film">From the film ''[[End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones]]''</ref> On October 8, 2004, he again played under the name "Elvis Ramone" when he joined [[Tommy Ramone]], [[C. J. Ramone]], and [[Daniel Rey]] in the "Ramones Beat on Cancer" concert.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Flashback: Blondie's Clem Burke Lasts Two Days as the Ramones' Drummer | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=November 29, 2018 | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-blondie-drummer-clem-burke-play-with-ramones-761423/ }}</ref>

He recorded and played live with [[Wanda Jackson]] and [[Nancy Sinatra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idrummag.com/interviews/clem-burke-healthy-mind-healthy-body/2/ |title=Clem Burke: Healthy mind, healthy body &#124; iDrum - Part 2 |publisher=Idrummag.com |date=2015-04-08 |access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref> Burke recorded with [[Sonny Vincent]], and [[Arthur Killer Kane]], and played on [[the Go-Go's]] member [[Kathy Valentine]]'s solo release ''Light Years'' in 2005. He recorded and toured with [[Dramarama]] from Wayne, New Jersey and Los Angeles on their 1993 album ''[[Hi-Fi Sci-Fi]]''.<ref>Album Credits</ref>

Burke was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2006 [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees#Performers|as a member of Blondie]].<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/blondie| title =Blondie| publisher = Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | access-date = July 16, 2021}}</ref> In 2007 he joined Slinky Vagabond with [[David Bowie]] guitarist [[Earl Slick]], [[Glen Matlock]] and [[Keanan Duffty]], who were playing their debut concert at the [[Joey Ramone]] Birthday Bash in May 2007.<ref name="bday">{{cite web| year=2007| title=Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2007| work=[[Village Voice]]| url=http://www.villagevoice.com/gallery/0721,21rockshow,76761,3.html?pic=8&total=19| access-date=May 15, 2007| archive-date=December 9, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209160003/http://www.villagevoice.com/gallery/0721%2C21rockshow%2C76761%2C3.html?pic=8&total=19| url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also a member of Magic Christian (Dirty Water Records), along with [[Flamin' Groovies]] guitarist Cyril Jordan (on guitar) and [[Plimsouls]] lead guitarist Eddie Munoz (on bass), and toured several times as drummer with the [[Hugh Cornwell]] Band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blondie.net/clem-burke-to-tour-with-hugh-cornwell/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113231209/http://www.blondie.net/clem-burke-to-tour-with-hugh-cornwell/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |title=Clem Burke to tour with Hugh Cornwell |publisher=Blondie |date=September 11, 2010 |access-date=2014-07-13 }}</ref>

Burke played 90-minute sets in 100 concerts in a year. In 2008, it was reported that he had taken part in an eight-year study that analysed the physical and psychological effects of drumming and the stamina required by professional drummers, conducted jointly by the [[University of Gloucestershire]] and the [[University of Chichester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-14068315 |title=BBC News |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=July 7, 2011 |access-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name="bbc">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7518888.stm Rock drummers 'are top athletes' at BBC News Health] Retrieved 26 November 2015</ref> In July 2011, Burke received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire as a result of the drumming project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clemburkedrummingproject.org/|title=Clem Burke Drumming Project|publisher=clemburkedrummingproject.org|date=April 2024 }}</ref> In 2008, Burke founded the Clem Burke Drumming project to investigate the physical and mental-health benefits of drumming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clemburkedrummingproject.org/|title=Clem Burke Drumming Project}}</ref>

In December 2011, Burke formed the band [[the International Swingers]] with [[Sex Pistols]] bass player [[Glen Matlock]], guitarist [[James Stevenson (musician)|James Stevenson]] of [[Generation X (band)|Generation X]] and singer [[Gary Twinn]] of [[Supernaut (Australian band)|Supernaut]].<ref>''The International Swingers'', [[Vive Le Rock (magazine)|Vive le Rock]], p. 26, September 2013</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Benjamin Leatherman |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2013/05/glen-matlock-clem-burke-international-swingers-interview.php |title=The International Swingers: "The First Punk Bands ... Were Just Bands" |work=[[Phoenix New Times]] |date=2013-05-22 |access-date=2015-02-21 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006080811/http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2013/05/glen-matlock-clem-burke-international-swingers-interview.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> About the same time he became a founding member of [[the Split Squad]], participating in tours,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idrummag.com/interviews/clem-burke-healthy-mind-healthy-body/3/ |title=Clem Burke: Healthy mind, healthy body &#124; iDrum - Part 3 |publisher=Idrummag.com |date=2015-04-08 |access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref> appearances at [[South by Southwest|SXSW]] festivals, and in the recording of the album, ''Now Hear This...'', released in January 2014.[[File:Clem Burke.jpg|thumb|Burke in 2008]]In April 2013, Burke appeared on the [[Little Steven]] song "All I Needed Was You" along with Scott Kempner, Barry Goldberg, Gregg Sutton and Tom Jr Morgan on the Carla Olson album ''Have Harmony, Will Travel''.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} In 2014, Burke was a founding member of [[the Empty Hearts]]. The group recorded on [[429 Records]] and his bandmates included [[the Romantics]] guitarist and vocalist [[Wally Palmar]], [[the Chesterfield Kings]] bassist Andy Babiuk, [[the Cars]] guitarist [[Elliot Easton]] and [[Small Faces]] and [[Faces (band)|Faces]] pianist [[Ian McLagan]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6084531/empty-hearts-blondie-cars-romantics-chesterfield-kings-album-song-listen |title=Empty Hearts: New Supergroup With Blondie, Cars Members (Exclusive Song Premiere) |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=2015-06-13}}</ref> The band's self-titled first album was released August 5, 2014, and produced by [[Ed Stasium]].<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Meet the Empty Hearts: Members of Blondie, Cars, Romantics, Chesterfield Kings Form New Band | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/empty-hearts-blondie-cars-romantics-chesterfield-kings-album-song-listen-6084531/ }}</ref>

In 2015, via [[PledgeMusic]], the band the International Swingers raised the money to record their first full-length self-titled album, ''The International Swingers'' (originally under the working title ''Whatever Works Now''). The album was recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles which is owned by the [[Foo Fighters]]. It was mixed by [[Peter Walsh (record producer)|Peter Walsh]], who had worked with [[Simple Minds]], [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]] and [[Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker]].<ref>{{cite web|author= Brian Blueskye|url=http://www.cvindependent.com/index.php/en-US/music/previews/item/2397-supergroup-at-the-hood-the-international-swingers-bring-songs-by-blondie-and-the-sex-pistols-plus-originals-to-palm-desert |title=Supergroup at The Hood: The International Swingers Bring Songs by Blondie and the Sex Pistols, Plus Originals, to Palm Desert |website= CVIndependent.com |date= 2015-08-03|access-date=2016-02-05}}</ref>

In 2017, Burke played dates as a member of L.A.M.F., a [[Johnny Thunders]] tribute also featuring [[Walter Lure]], [[Mike Ness]] and [[Glen Matlock]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theboweryelectric.com/|title=The Bowery Electric - Live Music Venue in NYC - The Bowery Electric|website=Theboweryelectric.com|access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref> The reunion shows in New York took place at the Bowery Electric in Manhattan on November 15 and 16, 2016, (without Glen Matlock) and were recorded for an album, released on Jungle Records in December 2017.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} In 2019, Burke played with Blondie tribute act Bootleg Blondie.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://52.20.94.27/article/march-2019-blondies-clem-burke/|title=Blondie's Clem Burke|website=52.20..94.27|access-date=September 20, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In December 2021, Burke filled in on drums for [[Gina Schock]] during [[the Go-Go's]] show at the [[Whisky a Go Go]], to celebrate their recent induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/go-gos-los-angeles-club-2021/|title=GO GO'S PLAY LOS ANGELES CLUB SHOW: PHOTOS|first=Corey|last=Irwin|website=ultimateclassicrock.com|date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, Burke was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the [[University of Chichester]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Blondie drummer receives honorary doctorate at the University of Chichester |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/blondie-drummer-honoured-by-the-university-of-chichester-3894696 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=SussexWorld |language=en}}</ref>

Burke died from cancer on April 6, 2025, at age 70.<ref name = RoSto>{{Cite magazine |author1=Kory Grow |author2=Jason Newman |date=2025-04-07 |title=Drummer Clem Burke, the 'Heartbeat of Blondie,' Dead at 70 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/clem-burke-blondie-drummer-dead-obituary-1235311703/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Discography ==
''NOTE: This list includes albums in which Clem Burke was a band member or the featured drummer.''
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2025}}

; With Blondie
* ''[[Blondie (album)|Blondie]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Plastic Letters]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Parallel Lines]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Eat to the Beat]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Autoamerican]]'' (1980)
* ''[[The Hunter (Blondie album)|The Hunter]]'' (1982)
* ''[[No Exit (Blondie album)|No Exit]]'' (1999)
* ''[[The Curse of Blondie]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Panic of Girls]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Blondie 4(0) Ever|Ghosts of Download]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Pollinator (album)|Pollinator]]'' (2017)
; With [[The Adult Net]]
* ''The Honey Tangle'' (1989)
; With [[BP Fallon]] & The Bandits
* ''Still Legal'' (2013)
; With [[Carla Olson]]
* ''[[Have Harmony, Will Travel]]'' (2013)
; With [[Chequered Past]]
* ''Chequered Past'' (1984)
; With The Delphines
* ''The Delphines'' (1996)
; With [[Dramarama]]
* ''[[Hi-Fi Sci-Fi]]'' (1993)
; With [[The Empty Hearts]]
* ''The Empty Hearts'' (2014)
* ''The Second Album'' (2020)
; With [[Eurythmics]]
* ''[[In the Garden (Eurythmics album)|In the Garden]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Revenge (Eurythmics album)|Revenge]]'' (1986)
; With [[Iggy Pop]]
* ''[[Zombie Birdhouse]]'' (1982)
; With [[The International Swingers]]
* ''The International Swingers'' (2015)
; With [[Jimmy Destri]]
* ''[[Heart on a Wall]]'' (1981)
; With [[Kathy Valentine]]
* ''Light Years'' (2005)
; With Magic Christian
* ''Evolver'' (2009)
; With [[Mark Owen]]
* ''[[Green Man (album)|Green Man]]'' (1996)
; With [[Miss Derringer]]
* ''Lullabies'' (2006)
; With [[Pete Townshend]]
* ''[[White City: A Novel]]'' (1985)
; With [[The Plimsouls]]
* ''Kool Trash'' (1998)
; With [[The Romantics]]
* ''Made in Detroit'' (1993)
* ''[[61/49]]'' (2003)
; With [[Sonny Vincent, Arthur Kane, Rick Ballard]]
* ''A Tribute To Mr. Rock' Chuck Berry Tribute- Carol'' (2004)
; With The 69 Cats
* ''Transylvanian Tapes'' (2014)
; With [[The Split Squad]]
* ''[[Now Hear This (The Split Squad album)|Now Hear This...]]'' (2014)
; With [[Walter Lure]] 
* ''L.A.M.F. Live At The Bowery Electric'' (2017)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Clem Burke}}
* [http://www.blondie.net/ Official Blondie website]
* {{IMDb name| 0121643}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110930022347/http://www.theinternationalswingers.com/ The International Swingers' official website]}}
* {{discogs artist|Clem Burke}}

{{Blondie}}
{{Ramones}}
{{The Romantics}}
{{Dramarama}}
{{2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Clem}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Ramones members]]
[[Category:Blondie (band) members]]
[[Category:American rock drummers]]
[[Category:American punk rock drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:American punk rock musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bayonne, New Jersey]]
[[Category:The Adult Net members]]
[[Category:American new wave musicians]]
[[Category:New wave drummers]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:The Romantics members]]
[[Category:Dramarama members]]
[[Category:The International Swingers members]]
[[Category:Holy Holy (tribute band) members]]
[[Category:Drummers from New Jersey]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer]]