Clem Burke wasn’t just Blondie’s drummer — he was a driving force behind one of the most iconic bands in rock history.

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With unmatched energy, a deep love for music, and a career that spanned decades and genres, Burke left an unforgettable mark on the world.

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Following his recent passing at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer, here’s a look at what to know about the legendary drummer:
1. Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Clem Burke was born in New Jersey in 1954. One of his earliest memories was playing along to the Four Seasons on his father’s drum kit. He began drumming in a local drum and bugle corps before stepping onto the New York club scene as a teenager.
At just 14, he performed at Carnegie Hall with his band, The Total Environment, during a battle of the bands contest.

2. Role in Blondie’s Rise

Burke joined Blondie shortly after its founding and played a crucial role in shaping the band’s future. He not only introduced his friend Gary Valentine as a bassist but also persuaded Debbie Harry and Chris Stein to continue when the band considered breaking up.
His energy and dedication were central to Blondie’s growth and longevity.

3. A Drummer Beyond Blondie

During Blondie’s 15-year hiatus (1982–1997), Burke built an impressive drumming career. He briefly played with The Ramones under the name Elvis Ramone, was a regular drummer for The Romantics from 1990 to 2004, and performed with music legends like Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Pete Townshend, and Eurythmics.

4. Hall of Fame Inductee

In 2006, Clem Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his Blondie bandmates, a testament to his enduring impact on rock music.

5. His Thoughts on Drumming and Legacy

In an interview with MixDown Magazine, Burke reflected on his inspirations, naming studio greats Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer as his role models. “I wanted to be able to contribute to the song rather than detract,” he said.

He also shared: “I don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t playing. Drumming has just always been there… I enjoy it. These are places that I like to be.”

6. Advocacy and Reflections

In 2023, Burke advocated for drumming to be included in school curricula, pointing to studies showing that 90 minutes of drumming per week could improve the quality of life for autistic children.

In “My View, a 2018 documentary about his life, he said: “Drums were a means to an end that enabled me to have a career in the music business. It was about being a rock ’n’ roll star… The drums have kind of chosen me. My dad was a drummer, so it’s probably in my DNA.”

7. Tributes and Personal Life

After his passing, tributes poured in from across the music and entertainment world. BBC Radio’s Lauren Laverne wrote, “Condolences and love. Thank you for the music, Clem.”

Fashion designer Zac Posen called him “an iconic drummer, a true rock ‘n roll savant.”
British rocker Skin said, “This is so sad… Clem was pure magic.”
Clem Burke is survived by his wife, Ellen Burke.

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Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has once again sparked reactions online with his public show of affection towards married Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels.

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The drama unfolded after Daniels posted a series of striking photos on Instagram, capturing her radiant beauty and poise in front of the camera.

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The images quickly drew attention, with fans flooding the comment section with compliments and admiration for the actress.

In the midst of the praise, Portable openly expressed his interest in Regina Daniels in the comments.

In his message, the singer wrote, “My eyes dey your body, but me I like girls.”

Regina Daniels, however, has remained silent on the matter and is yet to acknowledge or respond to Portable’s message.

This comes a few days after the actress politician husband, Ned Nwoko, took to social media to praise the actress.

The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, while celebrating their sixth anniversary, took to his verified Instagram account to share a poetic tribute dedicated to the actress.

While reflecting on their years together, Nwoko expressed his deep affection for Daniels, describing their union as an unwavering love that has endured challenges and remained strong.
His message, styled as a heartfelt poem, celebrated their journey over the years as a couple with two sons.

He emphasised the sincerity of their love, dismissing rumours of an alleged crisis in their marriage.

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Popular Nigerian actress and media personality, Omotunde Adebowale-David, also known as Lolo 1, has alleged that a colleague once raped her.

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The actress shared her traumatic experience of being raped by a male colleague in the broadcasting industry on her podcast “Say My Piece”, which was posted on YouTube on Friday.

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According to Lolo 1, she was raped by a colleague, which has left her traumatised and experiencing momentary panic whenever she sees him.

Lolo 1 stated that naming the rapist now will bring her criticism for not speaking out earlier but doing so now that the said person is an established figure in the industry.

She noted that women often respond to sexual assault with denial and self-blaming, highlighting the complexities of trauma and recovery.

She said, “I hardly ever say this, and I am not even ready to tell the full story. The stories of sexual assault. When I discussed it with my daughter yesterday, she held my hand and said, ‘Mummy, you’ve gone through so much.’ And I said I had.

“I remember how many of those things I have to relive. I have been raped only once in my life, and I was raped by a colleague. I see him every other day. Do you know how traumatized I am? When I see him, I just get into this momentary panic.

“But if a woman of my calibre named him, he’s an established person in the broadcast industry, won’t people say, ‘How come I didn’t speak about it for all these six years until now that he’s taking a prominent TV position?’
“When sexual assault happens to women, the first thing to happen is denial. The next thing is self-blaming.”

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