Just arrived in France to the news that Clem Burke has left the building. As a member of my all-time favorite band — and the first to die — this is terribly sad. My love to all the other Blondies out there, and especially to his friends and family. 💔🙏🥁
People often point to his brilliant performance on "Dreaming” and it’s easy to see why. How many other classic pop rock songs feature drums as the lead instrument? I remember a contemporaneous review of “Eat to the Beat” that said Clem’s drumming “saved” the album. I didn’t think the album was in any danger but the message was clear: This guy’s extraordinary.
But his presence was felt throughout Blondie’s catalog. My friend Jesse notes: “[You] can hear his flourishes everywhere. Their breakthrough hit ‘Heart of Glass’ is the greatest bit of rock-disco fusion anyone ever achieved, and an awful lot of it is down to Burke's hi-hat.”
As a teen I was obsessed with “Denis” while my brother Bill adored “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear,” both from the band’s second album, “Plastic Letters.” “Presence Dear” was a parting gift to the band from bassist Gary Valentine, who left because he really wanted to sing and play guitar. Burke is said to have lobbied for the band to record it, and my friend Jesse thinks he knows why —because Clem had so much fun playing it:
“He does great subtle things here, changing his approach on every verse so that it builds from a kind of reflective 1st verse (with Burke emphasizing the hi-hat and only playing clicks on the snare rim) through a full-bodied beat on the second verse, to Keith Moon-style fills on the bridge and finally whacking the snare on every beat in the last verse. The song builds momentum as it goes, from a pleasing pop trifle to a raucous rocker, and Burke is the main reason for that. He brought the same approach to every song, providing great sonic color and texture in addition to rocket propulsion. One of the greats.”
Britain’s NME writes: Burke wasn’t just a pummeling powerhouse; his skill was in modernizing and invigorating any style a song required — be it disco, reggae or doo-wop. The band’s adventurous beat-maker made his impact felt far … setting a new rhythm for pop from behind his drum kit — one that the world has been dancing to for 50 years.
With Jimmy out, Nigel and Frank never back in, and Chris on the sidelines for health reasons, Blondie has long been a facsimile of the band I grew up. Still, I’m thrilled Debbie and Chris were finally able to achieve the critical and financial success that were so overdue, and that Clem got to perform for large audiences (that truly appreciated him), which he clearly loved to do.
If nothing else, his shocking death makes me appreciate whom we have left that much more.
RIP, Clem. We’ll miss you and your mom hair.
How is this possible?
1 comment:
"We'll miss you and your mom hair" cracked me up because that is exactly how my mother wore her hair in the 1960s and 70s. (With addition of a speed bump in the early 60s). Enjoy your trip!
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