Latest news with #ClemBurke
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Debbie Harry turns 80: what next for Blondie?
Why is Debbie Harry in the headlines? The pop icon and Blondie singer has just turned 80. She is now the same age as Rod Stewart, 12 months behind Mick Jagger and just ahead of Dolly Parton, Bette Middler and Neil Young. How does she feel about reaching that milestone? Conflicted, judging by a recent interview in Vanity Fair. Harry said she had been affected by the death of Blondie drummer Clem Burke in April. 'What is this space I live in now? I'm curing – I'm doing a cure,' she said, meaning that she was taking stock and working out what she wants at this stage in life. 'And part of that is decluttering up my space, which is crowded with that life. I need to get some breath, get some air in there.' So that's the end of Blondie? Not quite: the band have a new album on the way – though, following Burke's death, it is unclear if they will tour again. The record is to be produced by John Congleton, a well-known figure in alternative music who has worked with St Vincent and Mogwai. [ Rock of ages: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Debbie Harry and 12 other classic acts still going strong Opens in new window ] Any idea what we can expect? With no new music released, it's still a guessing game. However, their last LP, 2017's Pollinator , featured contributions from Joan Jett, Johnny Marr of The Smiths and a pre-Brat Charli XCX. So fans can look forward to something exciting and boundary-breaking – elevated, as ever, by Harry's hard-as-diamond, soft-as-featherdown vocals. READ MORE Debbie Harry and Blondie perform on stage during Day 5 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Photo by) Why are Blondie so important anyway? In the 1970s and early 1980s they broke boundaries in numerous ways. The group emerged from the downtown New York punk movement, yet hits such as Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone, and Atomic had a pop sheen. They also helped put a spotlight on the rap scene bubbling up in Harlem by incorporating elements of hip-hop into their 1980 song Rapture. Punk roots: Debbie Harry with Blondie in Amsterdam, November 1977. Photograph: Gie Knaeps/Getty What happened then? By 1981, they had been on the road quite a while and tensions were rising. Their sixth album, The Hunter, was regarded as a disappointment. Plus, because they weren't selling all that many records, they were under financial strain. More seriously, guitarist Chris Stein – Harry's then romantic partner – had developed a rare autoimmune condition. He had to take time away to recuperate, and Harry put her career on hold to care for him. However, with Stein having recovered, they reformed in 1997 and achieved success with their comeback single, Maria, which peaked at number three in Ireland in 1999. Why is Harry considered such an important pop star? She was one of the great front people of the 1970s – a fashion icon as well as an influential singer. At a time when the music industry was still weighted against female performers, her take-no-prisoners outlook made her an important role model.
Otago Daily Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Obituary: Clem Burke, musician
Clem Burke on stage in 2014. Clem Burke was the man whose versatile drumming propelled US punk band Blondie to the worldwide chart toppers. "Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie," the band said in a statement. "His talent, energy and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable." A self-proclaimed "rock'n'roll survivalist", New Jersey-born Burke started playing the drums when he was 14 in his school orchestra but was kicked out for playing too loud. After leaving school he answered a band's ad in the Village Voice seeking a "freak energy" rock drummer, kicking off his decades-long career with lead singer Debbie Harry and the rest of his Blondie bandmates. Burke had found the right band at the right time and Blondie was soon in the ascendancy of a scene which produced bands such as Television, The Ramones and Talking Heads. During the late 1970s and early '80s, Blondie had eight US top 40 hits, including four No 1s: Heart of Glass, Call Me, The Tide Is High and Rapture, which is regarded as the first No 1 hit to feature rap. Burke's mark was especially solidified with his rapid, powerful drumming at the start of Dreaming in 1979. In 2006 Burke and the other original members of Blondie were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after selling more than 42 million records. As the 2020s dawned the band was still on the road. "We never would have thought that we would still be here today. Looking back at our archives, it's pretty amazing," Burke said. Clem Burke died on April 6 aged 70. — APL/agencies
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Debbie Harry reveals poignant birthday plans following the death of her Blondie bandmate
Debbie Harry wants to remember her Blondie bandmate Clem Burke on her 80th birthday, just months after his own death.
Perth Now
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Debbie Harry reveals poignant birthday plans following the death of her Blondie bandmate
Debbie Harry wants spent her 80th birthday remembering her Blondie bandmate Clem Burke. The 79-year-old rock star shot to fame as the lead singer of the 'One Way Or Another' hitmakers in the 1970s alongside drummer Clem - who died in April at the age of 70 - and wants to keep things relatively simple as she celebrates the life of her late co-star. She told People: "I hope to be with my friends and to celebrate the life of my drummer, Clem Burke, who recently passed, and celebrate my own life." Clem died following a "a private battle with cancer" and at the time of his death, the band noted that his "influence extended far beyond" that of the band. Debbie hasn't let thoughts of her upcoming birthday consume her but admitted recently that she often still feels as if she is 25. She added: "I don't walk around thinking every minute, oh my God, I'm going be 80 — but that's sort of how I feel. My mother used to say in her head she was 25 and I'm the same." However, Debbie doesn't want her life now to look like it did when she was 25 years old and instead has found a kind of "beauty" in the passage of time. She said: "But thinking about it all the time could be your downfall. And I don't really want the same kind of life I did when I was younger. I've done that! That's the beauty of ageing — you know what it's about. You have it in your heart and soul and your memory bank … or does that sound like an excuse? Should I go out and party every night Meanwhile, Debbie revealed that has kept "everything" from her time in Blondie and is hoping all her clothes and memorabilia from her heyday in an exhibition one day. She said: "I have everything. I have everything, and I hope to put on a little exhibition at some point!"
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In Pictures: The week in Culture
Beyond the devastating implications of the Trump administration's policies, protesters have gotten to showcase their creativity during recent "Hands Off" protests. Oh, and penguins started protesting Trump also... Find out why and how here. Clem Burke, whose versatile drumming propelled the iconic rock group Blondie during its decades performing everything from new-wave punk to disco-infused tunes, died this week aged 70. Each year, Meltdown chooses a different musical act to direct the festival's programme. 2025 is Little Simz's year, and her curation of the 30th edition at London's Southbank Centre - which will take place from 12-22 June - is looking very promising. Sustainable retailer Awesome Books has put together a list of the most Instagrammable bookstores around the world, ranking based on the number of posts tagged with the store's name. The list is mighty pretty. The grave marker of director David Lynch was revealed by his daughter Jennifer, and it bears a cryptic epitaph that couldn't be more Lynchian. We unlocked the mystery behind "Night Blooming Jasmine." A high court in Colombia ruled this week that the song '+57', recorded last year by urban music stars J Balvin and Karol G, violated the rights of children because its lyrics sexualized minors. Tennis legend Billie Jean King became the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the new sports entertainment category. Fans and countrymen shared their remembrances of Dominican Republic music icon Rubby Pérez, who was among the scores of people killed this week after the roof at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo collapsed. He was 69. His wake took place at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. For the first time ever, London's National Gallery is offering one lucky person an overnight stay among some of the most iconic paintings in history. Read all about it here. We're getting a new Patti Smith book this year... And we're all sorts of excited. The line-up for the upcoming 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival was announced this week - and the selection looks fantastic. However, it coincided with a special committee report on sexist and sexual abuse in the world of French culture - something which may end up overshadowing this year's festival... Read the full story here. Pete Best, the drummer who performed with the Beatles before Ringo Starr, confirmed his retirement this week. The 83-year-old's brother announced the news on social media, writing that the drummer would no longer be performing with his band, the Pete Best Band. Ready to dive back into the world of The Last Of Us? Well, the celebrated zombie show is back on your screens on Sunday. We loved Season One, so fingers crossed the return will bring the goods... See you next week and stay tuned to for all your cultural news.
