In 1978, Blondie had a massive breakthrough moment.
That year, they mixed punk vibes with catchy tunes and quirky ideas to create Plastic Letters, their second album, which hit the U.S. Billboard charts for the first time. Then came Parallel Lines in September, produced by Mike Chapman. This album took them to new heights, reaching No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and turning songs like “Heart of Glass,” “One Way or Another,” and “Sunday Girl” into timeless hits.
The song “Heart of Glass” started with a drum machine beat from a Roland CR-78 at a time when such technology was rare in popular music. Burke wasn’t worried about being replaced; he just saw it as an exciting challenge to add life to electronic beats. He said later, “I later got to work with Kraftwerk’s German producer Conny Plank when he was producing the Eurythmics, and he really made a point of telling me how much he enjoyed ‘Heart of Glass’ and hearing the electronic influence.”
After Blondie split up in 1982, Burke played drums for many famous musicians like Pete Townshend (who he looked up to), Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Joan Jett, Iggy Pop, Nancy Sinatra, Dramarama, and Fleshtones. One cool gig was playing two shows with the Ramones in 1987 as Elvis Ramone! He also joined supergroups like International Swingers and Slinky Vagabond.
The band got back together later on and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. A few years after that big honor for Blondie members including Burke himself came another recognition: an honorary doctorate from University of Gloucestershire awarded him due his participation over eight years studying rock drumming’s effects both physically & mentally through playing intense shows non-stop throughout one whole year—90-minute sets each night! We think it’s amazing how music can be both physically demanding yet so rewarding!
A flood of tributes poured in from fellow artists after news broke about Burke’s passing; heartfelt messages arrived from Dave Davies (the Kinks), Johnny Marr (formerly Smiths guitarist), Graham Coxon (Blur), Echo & Bunnymen members plus Garbage along Sky Ferreira too! Nancy Sinatra shared her sorrow saying: “My heart is shattered… Clem became an icon as part Blondie but also important part my band KAB blessed call friend if ever needed there.”
