Blondie drummer Clem Burke died from cancer on Sunday, April 6, 2025. He was 70 years old.

In a statement, his Blondie bandmates called him “the heartbeat of Blondie.” They said that, “His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Burke was born Clement Bozewski on November 24, 1954, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His drumming career began in the late 1960s when he played with a variety of jam bands and as a drummer for the St. Andrew’s Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps.

In 1975, singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein asked him to join Blondie, and then he brought in bassist Gary Valentine. He played the drums on all of Blondie’s albums, starting with Blondie in 1976, the iconic Parallel Lines in ’78, and their comeback album No Exit in ’99. His beats were heard on all of their hit songs, including “Heart of Glass,” “Call Me,” and “One Way or Another.”

Outside of Blondie, he performed with a wide variety of musicians, including the Eurythmics, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, The Go-Go’s, Nancy Sinatra, and David Bowie.