Clem Burke

Clem Burke

Clem Burke in 2009
Background information
Birth name Clement Bozewski
Also known as Clement Burke
Clem Burke
Elvis Ramone
Born (1955-11-24) November 24, 1955
Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
Genres Punk rock, new wave, hard rock, post-punk, garage rock, pop rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums
Years active 1972–present
Associated acts Blondie, Chequered Past, The Fleshtones, The Romantics, Ramones, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, The Adult Net, The Split Squad, The International Swingers, The Empty Hearts, Slinky Vagabond

Clement "Clem" Burke (born November 24, 1955) is an American musician who is best known as the drummer for the band Blondie from 1975, shortly after the band formed, throughout the band's entire career.

Life and career

Burke's early experiences behind the drum kit began in the late 1960s and early 1970s as one of the founding members of Bayonne's premier cover bands, Total Environment and Sweet Willie Jam Band. Burke also gained percussion knowledge from his stint as a drummer in the famed Saint Andrew Bridgmen Drum and Bugle Corps in Bayonne. Recruited by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein when Blondie was first forming in 1974, Burke joined Blondie in 1975. He was a key figure in keeping the group together after Stein and Harry considered disbanding, following the departure of original bassist Fred Smith to Television and recruited his friend Gary Valentine to play bass. His style of playing was influenced by Hal Blaine, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, and Earl Palmer.[1]

During the 1980s and 1990s, when Blondie was disbanded, Burke played drums for the Romantics (for whom Burke was the regular drummer between 1990 and 2004), Pete Townshend,[2] Bob Dylan,[2] Eurythmics,[3] Dramarama,[4] the Fleshtones, Iggy Pop,[2] and Joan Jett,[2] amongst others. He went on to record with the line-up of Chequered Past in 1983 with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, former Blondie bandmate Nigel Harrison, musician Tony Sales and singer/actor Michael Des Barres.[5][6]

In 1987 he stood in as drummer for the Ramones (under the name "Elvis Ramone") for two gigs, on August 28 in Providence, Rhode Island, and August 29 in Trenton, New Jersey, after the sudden departure of Richie Ramone.[7] On October 8, 2004, he once 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. He has recorded and played live with Wanda Jackson and Nancy Sinatra.[8] Burke also played on the Go-Go's member Kathy Valentine's solo release, Light Years in 2005. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of Blondie.

In 2007, Burke joined Slinky Vagabond with David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, Glen Matlock, and Keanan Duffty playing their debut concert at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in May 2007.[9] He is also a member of Magic Christian (Dirty Water Records), along with former 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.[10]

Burke played 90-minute sets at 100 concerts in a year and in 2008 it was reported that he had taken part in an 8-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.[11][12] In July 2011, Burke received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire, as a result of the drumming project.[13]

In December 2011 he formed the band The International Swingers with Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock, guitarist James Stevenson of Generation X and singer Gary Twinn of Supernaut.[14][15] About the same time he became a founding member of the Split Squad, participating in tours,[16] appearances at SXSW festivals, and in the recording of the album, "Now Hear This...", released in January 2014.

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. 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 pianist Ian McLagan.[17] The band's self-titled first album was released August 5, 2014, and produced by Ed Satsium.

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 LA which is owned by the Foo Fighters. It was then mixed by Peter Walsh who has worked with Simple Minds, Pulp and most recently Scott Walker.[18]

Equipment

Burke's Blondie Kit – DW Drums Collectors Series, Maple Drums, Gold Sparkle and Red Glass kits:

Drums

Zildjian cymbals

Remo drumheads

Hardware

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Blondie: Rip Her to Shreds". Mojo. 1998. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Clem Burke | BlondieBlondie". Blondie.net. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  3. ↑ "Revenge25: Clem Burke Interview | Ultimate Eurythmics:". Eurythmics-ultimate.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  4. ↑ "Dramarama". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  5. ↑ Louis A Bustamante, Barry L. Kramer. "Clem Burke Biography". Archive.blondie.net. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  6. ↑ Allan Metz (May 16, 1999). "Clem Burke". Drury.edu. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  7. ↑ From the film End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
  8. ↑ "Clem Burke: Healthy mind, healthy body | iDrum - Part 2". Idrummag.com. 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  9. ↑ "Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2007". Village Voice. 2007. Retrieved 2007.
  10. ↑ "Clem Burke to tour with Hugh Cornwell". Blondie. September 11, 2010. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
  11. ↑ "BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  12. ↑ Rock drummers 'are top athletes' at BBC News Health Retrieved 26 November 2015
  13. ↑ "Clem Burke Drumming Project". Clemburkedrummingproject.com. July 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  14. ↑ The International Swingers, Vive le Rock, p. 26, September 2013
  15. ↑ Benjamin Leatherman (2013-05-22). "The International Swingers: "The First Punk Bands ... Were Just Bands"". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  16. ↑ "Clem Burke: Healthy mind, healthy body | iDrum - Part 3". Idrummag.com. 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  17. ↑ "Empty Hearts: New Supergroup With Blondie, Cars Members (Exclusive Song Premiere)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  18. ↑ Brian Blueskye (2015-08-03). "Supergroup at The Hood: The International Swingers Bring Songs by Blondie and the Sex Pistols, Plus Originals, to Palm Desert". CVIndependent.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.

External links

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