Clem Burke, who as the drummer for the rock bandBlondiewas the groups heartbeat, died Sunday of cancer.
His death was announced today by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band.
Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage.
Clem Burke onstage with Blondie in 2007Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage
Read the statement in full below.
Filling out the band roster was keyboardist, backup vocalist and occasional songwriter Jimmy Destri.
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Burke drummed on all four of Blondies U.S. No.
Clem Burke and Debbie Harry onstage with Blondie in 2014 (Getty Images)Getty Images
The last one was the first song featuring a rap passage to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Rapture was among nine Top 10s on that side of the pond.
Blondie also had back-to-back No.
1 albums in the UK withParallel LinesandEat to the Beat,which were among nine Top 10 discs there.
In the U.S., the quintet had four consecutive platinum albums, withParallel LinesandAutoamericanreaching the Top 10.
1 Belgium and Holland.
He also briefly played drums for the Ramones (under the name Elvis Ramone) in 1987.
Blondie and Burke were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage.
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.
