| Clem Burke | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Clement Anthony Bozewski |
| Also known as | Clement Burke Clem Burke Elvis Ramone |
| Born | November 24, 1954 Bayonne, New Jersey United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, new wave, hard rock, post-punk, garage rock, pop rock |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Associated acts | Blondie, The Romantics, Ramones, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, The Adult Net, Bulimia Banquet |
| Website | Official Blondie website |
Clem Burke (born Clement Anthony Bozewski; November 24, 1954) is an American musician who is the drummer for the band Blondie. Recruited by Chris Stein and Debbie Harry when they were first forming Blondie, Burke remained with the band through its first stage and later returned for its late 1990s reunion and then its extensive 2009 tour.
Following a failed audition for Patti Smith's band, he 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, and recruited his friend Gary Valentine to play bass. His style of playing was influenced by Hal Blaine and Keith Moon.[1]
During the 1980s and '90s, when Blondie was disbanded, Burke played drums for The Romantics (for whom Burke was the regular drummer between 1990 and 2004), Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, The Tourists, Dramarama, The Fleshtones, Iggy Pop, and Joan Jett, 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.[2][3]
In the late '80s, he stood in as drummer for The Ramones (under the name "Elvis Ramone") for two gigs, on August 28, 1987, in Providence, Rhode Island, and August 29, 1987, in Trenton, New Jersey, after the sudden departure of Richie Ramone.[4] 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 Down On Cancer" concert. He has recorded and played live with Wanda Jackson and Nancy Sinatra. Clem 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.[5]
He now is a member of Slinky Vagabond with Earl Slick, Glen Matlock, and Keanan Duffty. Slinky Vagabond played their debut concert at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in May 2007.[5] He is also currently 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).
As of November, 2010, he plays drums with The Hugh Cornwell Band.
In July 2011, it was announced that he is to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire, due to his drumming project that analyses the physical and psychological effects of drumming.[6]
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