Clem Burke, the legendary drummer of new wave band Blondie, has died at age 70 following a private battle with cancer, the band announced today.
Burke, who joined Blondie shortly after its formation in 1975, was remembered by bandmates Debbie Harry and Chris Stein as "the heartbeat of Blondie" whose "talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched."
Known for his powerful drumming style and theatrical live performances, including stick-twirling and leaping over his drum kit, Burke played on all of Blondie's albums and helped drive hits like "Heart of Glass," "Dreaming," and "Rapture." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2006.
Beyond Blondie, Burke collaborated with numerous rock legends throughout his career, including Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Pete Townshend, and the Eurythmics. He briefly performed with the Ramones under the name Elvis Ramone and served as the regular drummer for The Romantics from 1990 to 2004.
Born Clement Anthony Bozewski in New Jersey in 1954, Burke began his career playing in cover bands before joining Blondie in New York City. He proved instrumental in the band's early days by recruiting bassist Gary Valentine and helping keep the group together when Harry and Stein considered disbanding.
"His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched," the band said in their statement, requesting privacy during this difficult time.