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South Wales Guardian
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs of Blondie to open
The photos of the band, fronted by singer Debbie Harry, were all taken in New York in their 'breakthrough year' of 1978, which saw the release of their best known album Parallel Lines, which featured classic tracks such as Hanging On The Telephone, Sunday Girl and One Way Or Another. The free exhibition is being held at the City Of London Corporation's Barbican Music Library, with 50 prints on display of the band in concert, backstage, in the recording studio, and during photo sessions. Blondie, who enjoyed success with singles such as Heart Of Glass, Call Me and The Tide Is High, began their career in 1974 performing at New York's CBGB club alongside the likes of The Ramones, Television and Talking Heads, the band disbanded in 1982 but reformed in the late 1990s. They are due to release a new album next year. Photographer Martyn Goddard said: 'When I boarded the plane in May 1978 to photograph Blondie's lead singer, Debbie Harry, in New York, I could not have conceived that there would still be a demand for my images over 45 years later. 'Those assignments produced a body of work that resulted in magazine cover stories, album and single covers, tour programmes, posters, a book, and two photo exhibitions. 'Blondie in Camera 1978 at Barbican Music Library is my visual record of those images and memorabilia collected during a seminal time in the band's history, and I hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy being reminded of the band's energy, rawness, and style.' Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said: 'As pioneers of the New Wave genre, the band produced so many memorable hits, and this new exhibition will certainly bring back many vivid memories of one of the most electrifying bands of their generation.' It comes after Blondie's drummer, Clem Burke, died aged 70 in April after a cancer diagnosis. The exhibition at Barbican Music Library will run from from August 14 to January 5.
Leader Live
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs of Blondie to open
The photos of the band, fronted by singer Debbie Harry, were all taken in New York in their 'breakthrough year' of 1978, which saw the release of their best known album Parallel Lines, which featured classic tracks such as Hanging On The Telephone, Sunday Girl and One Way Or Another. The free exhibition is being held at the City Of London Corporation's Barbican Music Library, with 50 prints on display of the band in concert, backstage, in the recording studio, and during photo sessions. Blondie, who enjoyed success with singles such as Heart Of Glass, Call Me and The Tide Is High, began their career in 1974 performing at New York's CBGB club alongside the likes of The Ramones, Television and Talking Heads, the band disbanded in 1982 but reformed in the late 1990s. They are due to release a new album next year. Photographer Martyn Goddard said: 'When I boarded the plane in May 1978 to photograph Blondie's lead singer, Debbie Harry, in New York, I could not have conceived that there would still be a demand for my images over 45 years later. 'Those assignments produced a body of work that resulted in magazine cover stories, album and single covers, tour programmes, posters, a book, and two photo exhibitions. 'Blondie in Camera 1978 at Barbican Music Library is my visual record of those images and memorabilia collected during a seminal time in the band's history, and I hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy being reminded of the band's energy, rawness, and style.' Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said: 'As pioneers of the New Wave genre, the band produced so many memorable hits, and this new exhibition will certainly bring back many vivid memories of one of the most electrifying bands of their generation.' It comes after Blondie's drummer, Clem Burke, died aged 70 in April after a cancer diagnosis. The exhibition at Barbican Music Library will run from from August 14 to January 5.
The Independent
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Unmatched' Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies aged 70 after cancer diagnosis
Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died aged 70 after a cancer diagnosis, the band has said. Born in New Jersey, US, Burke featured on all of the Debbie Harry-fronted band's studio albums, from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017's Pollinator, after joining the band a year after their formation in 1975. In a statement on Blondie's Instagram, Harry and the band's guitarist Chris Stein said: 'It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer. 'Clem was not just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. 'Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 'Clem's influence extended far beyond Blondie, a self proclaimed 'rock and roll survivalist', he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists.' Burke played on Iggy Pop's 1982 album Zombie Birdhouse, and also performed with Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, and Joan Jett. The statement continued: 'His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Clem's family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. 'As we navigate this profound loss, we ask for privacy during this difficult time. Godspeed, Dr Burke.' Burke made his final live appearance with Blondie last year, and even performed with tribute act Bootleg Blondie in 2019. The drummer performed on classic tracks such as Call Me, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another, scoring six UK number one singles and two UK number one albums. Among those paying tribute was Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who said in a post on X: 'I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon. 'May he rest in peace, spectacular drumming, we were friends.' The band began their career performing at New York's CBGB and Max's Kansas City clubs, which witnessed the birth of a number of pioneering punk bands, including the Patti Smith Group, Television, The Ramones and Talking Heads. During their early days Burke was credited with keeping the band together after original bassist Fred Smith left to join Television, recruiting his friend Gary Valentine to take over. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with his fellow bandmates in 2006.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies, aged 70
Clem Burke, the drummer for 1970s new wave band Blondie, has died aged 70 following a "private battle with cancer", the band's spokesperson has confirmed to the BBC. Named one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, his energetic fills and melodic flourishes elevated UK number one hits like Call Me, The Tide Is High, Atomic and Heart Of Glass - with Burke deftly switching between punk, reggae, disco and hip-hop grooves. In a long and varied career, he also played with Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Eurythmics and Take That's Mark Owen. "Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie," his bandmates said in a tribute posted on Facebook. "His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable," wrote singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. "Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him." Burke was born and raised in New Jersey, and said his earliest memory was "playing my father's kit along to the Four Seasons". He gained experience in marching bands and cover groups, before being recruited for Blondie in 1974. From the start, he envisioned his role as something more than a mere time-keeper. "I always appreciated drummers like Hal Blaine (Phil Spector's go-to session drummer) and Earl Palmer (Little Richard, Fats Domino) who were consummate studio musicians, and had the kind of musicality and versatility that I aspired to," he told Mixdown magazine last year. "I wanted to be able to contribute to the song rather than detract." The band made their name in New York punk clubs such as CBGB, alongside contemporaries such as Talking Heads, Television, and Patti Smith and released their self-titled debut album in 1976. However, it was 1978's Parallel Lines that made them household names, powered by new wave hits like One Way Or Another and the disco grooves of Heart of Glass. Recording the drum track for Heart Of Glass was a torturous experience, however. Producer Mike Chapman wanted to synchronise Burke's playing to a Roland drum machine - an experimental procedure that led to the drummer playing each of his drums individually, then piecing together the rhythm track over the period of a week. By the end of the session, "he was ready to kill me," Chapman later told the Wall Street Journal. When Stein became critically ill in 1982, Blondie disbanded. Burke spent the intervening years playing with US rock band The Romantics, and worked with everyone from Pete Townshend and Joan Jett, to Sex Pistol Steve Jones and The Ramones - for whom he adopted the stage name Elvis Ramone. However, he returned to Blondie when they reformed in 1999, and scored his sixth UK number one single with the anthemic Maria. Speaking to BBC News in 2021, Harry said that having Burke back in the band meant their legacy wouldn't be diluted. "I think a lot of times when bands get back together, they don't have enough of the original musicians," she said. "With Chris and Clem and myself, we had that core, and it really weighed heavily, you know?" The band have continued to perform and record ever since, and played Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in 2023. Burke also became involved with a years-long study of the physical and psychological effects of drumming. That led to the establishment of the Clem Burke Drumming Project in 2008, whose detailed studies showed that drummers can reach the same physical exertion as professional athletes. As a result, he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire in 2011. Burke made his last appearance with Blondie at Northern Ireland's Belsonic festival last summer, still wearing his CBGB t-shirt. "His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of," wrote Harry and Stein on Facebook. "We extend our deepest condolences to Clem's family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. "Godspeed, Dr Burke."
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blondie drummer Clem Burke dies, aged 70
Clem Burke, the drummer for 1970s new wave band Blondie, has died aged 70 following a "private battle with cancer", the band's spokesperson has confirmed to the one of the greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, his energetic fills and melodic flourishes elevated UK number one hits like Call Me, The Tide Is High, Atomic and Heart Of Glass - with Burke deftly switching between punk, reggae, disco and hip-hop a long and varied career, he also played with Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Eurythmics and Take That's Mark Owen."Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie," his bandmates said in a tribute posted on Facebook. "His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable," wrote singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. "Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him." Burke was born and raised in New Jersey, and said his earliest memory was "playing my father's kit along to the Four Seasons".He gained experience in marching bands and cover groups, before being recruited for Blondie in the start, he envisioned his role as something more than a mere time-keeper."I always appreciated drummers like Hal Blaine (Phil Spector's go-to session drummer) and Earl Palmer (Little Richard, Fats Domino) who were consummate studio musicians, and had the kind of musicality and versatility that I aspired to," he told Mixdown magazine last year."I wanted to be able to contribute to the song rather than detract."The band made their name in New York punk clubs such as CBGB, alongside contemporaries such as Talking Heads, Television, and Patti Smith and released their self-titled debut album in it was 1978's Parallel Lines that made them household names, powered by new wave hits like One Way Or Another and the disco grooves of Heart of the drum track for Heart Of Glass was a torturous experience, Mike Chapman wanted to synchronise Burke's playing to a Roland drum machine - an experimental procedure that led to the drummer playing each of his drums individually, then piecing together the rhythm track over the period of a the end of the session, "he was ready to kill me," Chapman later told the Wall Street Journal. When Stein became critically ill in 1982, Blondie disbanded. Burke spent the intervening years playing with US rock band The Romantics, and worked with everyone from Pete Townshend and Joan Jett, to Sex Pistol Steve Jones and The Ramones - for whom he adopted the stage name Elvis he returned to Blondie when they reformed in 1999, and scored his sixth UK number one single with the anthemic to BBC News in 2021, Harry said that having Burke back in the band meant their legacy wouldn't be diluted."I think a lot of times when bands get back together, they don't have enough of the original musicians," she said."With Chris and Clem and myself, we had that core, and it really weighed heavily, you know?"The band have continued to perform and record ever since, and played Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in 2023. Burke also became involved with a years-long study of the physical and psychological effects of drumming. That led to the establishment of the Clem Burke Drumming Project in 2008, whose detailed studies showed that drummers can reach the same physical exertion as professional athletes. As a result, he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire in made his last appearance with Blondie at Northern Ireland's Belsonic festival last summer, still wearing his CBGB t-shirt."His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of," wrote Harry and Stein on Facebook."We extend our deepest condolences to Clem's family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched. "Godspeed, Dr Burke."
