Clem Burke, Blondie drummer and self-proclaimed 'Rock & Roll survivalist,' dies at 70

Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died, the set announced Monday connected societal media. He was 70

“It is with profound sadness that we relay quality of the passing of our beloved person and bandmate Clem Burke pursuing a backstage conflict with cancer,” vocalist Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein said successful a connection connected behalf of “the full Blondie family.”

The specifics of Burke’s crab were not revealed.

“Clem was not conscionable a drummer; helium was the heartbeat of Blondie,” the connection continued. “His talent, energy, and passionateness for euphony were unmatched, and his contributions to our dependable and occurrence are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a root of inspiration some connected and disconnected the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and stone coagulated enactment ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Born Clement Anthony Bozewski connected Nov. 24, 1954, Burke joined the set soon aft it was founded successful 1974 by Harry and Stein and played connected each Blondie album, including “Parallel Lines,” the 1979 merchandise that included the deed azygous “Heart of Glass.”

The genre-crossing quality of that opus upset immoderate punk fans, but not Burke.

“Dance was arsenic subversive arsenic punk to me. Us doing ‘Heart of Glass’ was our mode of pissing disconnected radical successful our ain circles,” helium said astatine the SXSW Festival successful 2014.

Burke was “a aforesaid proclaimed ‘Rock & Roll survivalist,’” the set said, who was undaunted erstwhile Blondie divided up successful 1982 years aft the hits “Call Me,” “The Tide Is High” and “Rapture.” Blondie reunited periodically, successful 1997 and beyond. In and astir those times, helium performed with musicians including Eurythmics, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, the Fleshtones, the Romantics, Dramarama and the Go-Go’s, to sanction a few.

Burke was inducted with his Blondie bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame successful March 2006.

In 2011, helium was awarded an honorary doctorate from the U.K.’s University of Gloucestershire, the BBC reported, successful designation of his “groundbreaking enactment with students” tied to a probe task helium started to survey the affirmative carnal and intelligence effects of drumming. The survey tracked the bosom rate, oxygen uptake and humor lactate levels of nonrecreational drummers successful rehearsals and during unrecorded shows, the outlet said. It included the likes of Rush drummer Neil Peart and led to the decision that apical stone drummers required the aforesaid stamina arsenic elite-level shot players.

“His power and contributions person spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible people connected each task helium was a portion of,” the band’s Monday connection continued.

“We widen our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends, and fans astir the world. His bequest volition unrecorded connected done the tremendous magnitude of euphony helium created and the countless lives helium touched. As we navigate this profound loss, we inquire for privateness during this hard time. Godspeed, Dr. Burke.”