Clem Burke

Clement Anthony Burke (né Bozewski; November 24, 1954 – April 6, 2025) was an American musician best known as the drummer for the 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

Clement Anthony Bozewski was born on 24 November 1954 in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Clement J. Bozewski and Antoinette (née 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.

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 St Andrew's Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps in Bayonne. He was recruited by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein when Blondie was first forming in 1974 and joined the band in early 1975. He was a key figure in keeping the group together when Stein and Harry considered disbanding after their original bassist, Fred Smith, departed to Television. Burke recruited his friend Gary Valentine to play bass. Burke's style of drumming was influenced by Hal Blaine, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Earl Palmer.

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), Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Dramarama, the Fleshtones, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett and The Stranglers amongst others.