Remembering 2025’s Music Losses: Clem Burke

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Today it’s music first as I alternate between the list of people I’m paying tribute to this month. Most of these acts didn’t get headline news, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t important. Today’s musician was a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Clem Burke As with most of the bands in this world, unless you’re a die-hard fan you can’t name anyone in the band other than the lead singer (or maybe a guitarist, since Van Halen was named after Eddie Van Halen ). I won’t keep you in suspense, though, because you have heard this man. Clem Burke was the drummer for Blondie. In fact, he was credited with being the reason Blondie became a legendary band. Fred Smith, the original bassist for Blondie, left the group in early 1975 to join another CBGB alum band, Television. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, the nucleus of Blondie, considered throwing in the towel, but Burke convinced them to move on with another bassist. Burke recommended his friend, Gary Valentine. Valentine got the gig, and we all got to hear Blondie. Starting with their second album, Plastic Letters, and the remake of “Denise” (as “Denis”), Blondie began getting attention beyond the walls of CBGB’s. Their next album, Parallel Lines, made them superstars with their megahit “Heart of Glass.” From there, you couldn’t turn the radio on for three years without a Blondie song. “Call Me” (from American Gigolo), “Rapture,” and “The Tide is High” were just some of their biggest hits. The way music styles changed in the late 80s, though, it wasn’t long until Blondie was on hiatus. Burke went to the Romantics (known for “What I Like About You”) in 1990 to drum and played with other acts (including a stint as “Elvis Ramone” in the Ramones) until Blondie reunited. Just 70, he died on April 6 from cancer. His passing closes another chapter in the legendary history of the mid-70s bands from CBGB’s. Clem Burke Born Clement Anthony Bozewski, November 24, 1954, Bayonne, New Jersey Died April 6, 2025 (cancer) (age 70) HALL OF FAME: Rock and Roll, 2006 (as member of Blondie) One of my favorite Blondie songs, “Sunday Girl”: