Clem Burke, most properly generally known as the drummer for Blondie, has actually lived it up. Though he thought he’d be retired by 30, he’s nonetheless going, and residing it up, with a quickly to be launched memoir in addition. He has been the drummer for 4 completely different bands inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame–together with Blondie, The Ramones, The Go-Go’s, and 2022 inductees the Eurythmics—and has obtained an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the College of Gloucestershire for his Clem Burke Drumming Mission. The person simply received’t cease.
I caught up with Clem a couple of months again, as he was getting off stage taking part in Merciless World Fest in Pasadena with Blondie. He instructed me all about his many adventures on tour, beginning with taking part in with Iggy Pop within the late ‘70s.
“Nicely, let me inform you what occurred when Debbie [Harry] was doing her solo album and taking a break from Blondie. I used to be working with Iggy Pop. And this was one of many first nationwide excursions, selling him plus David Bowie on keyboards. Iggy known as me, asking me to be on drums. Then Carlos Alomar known as me, he stated, ‘Are you doing it? If you happen to do it, I’ll do it.’ And so we ended up with three guitarists.
Now, Iggy had a mandate: play as loud and as quick as doable. Additionally, no meals backstage, simply medicine and alcohol. A form of ‘No Blow, No Present’ sort of ambiance.
There are such a lot of unimaginable moments. From getting caught in Canada throughout a blizzard, ready for a blues singer who was delivering all these items. All the best way to Detroit in 1981, the place we performed the Pontiac Silverdome–with no sound verify! Iggy, Santana, The Rolling Stones–it was like getting into a Roman Colosseum that night time.
Anyway, Iggy was so miffed that Mick Jagger didn’t say howdy to him. And on high of that Iggy was carrying a mini skirt, suspenders, a leather-based jacket, and boots. That was night time one. Nicely, night time two, he was in pantyhose and a leather-based motorbike jacket. Mainly bare from the waist down and let me inform you when the spotlights hit him, you can see all of it!
One of many songs we did had the lyrics ‘you want extra,’ and everybody took it as ‘extra medicine, extra champagne.’ And the following factor folks began throwing issues at us–together with knives. The bass participant bought a knife in his hand. Champagne bottles have been flying by way of the air, and there was Iggy standing on the lip of the stage singing ‘give me extra.’ The present’s promoter, Invoice Graham, collected all this ephemera and made a list: cash, bottles, candies, you title it, it was all there.
One other time we have been in Austin, Texas on the identical tour, at Membership Foot, and there was a bomb scare. Somebody on stage yelled we needed to evacuate. However Iggy simply didn’t. He insisted we went right into a salute, and he saved saying we’re all going to die and we have been simply not likely telling folks about it.
In fact there was additionally the time in San Francisco the place Alan Ginsberg got here on stage, smoked pot with us and did a chant. Due to Iggy’s mandate of no meals, we’d then go to eating places and eventually eat like loopy. Iggy would order three entrees and feast himself.
Oh, it was all so memorable.
With Blondie, so many loopy issues would occur. The final gig earlier than we reunited was at Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia with Flock of Seagulls and Genesis. I bought to speak to Phil Collins on that tour, and he acknowledged my expertise as a drummer. So, our highway crew had gone into our trailer to do one thing or one other, and sneakily the Elvis Costello highway crew locked all of them inside this trailer. Nicely, in some way we’re now on stage and issues are going flawed and the highway crew just isn’t coming to assist, we’re not listening to something from them.
I imply, the primary track was “Rapture” and for some cause issues have been simply not going proper, and taking part in out of sync. Chaotic. That was the final Blondie gig earlier than we regrouped within the late ‘90s. So becoming. To this present day, we reminisce after we see Elvis Costello’s groups.
It was all simply the best time. These days we preserve it extra civilized. With Iggy, it was at all times decadent rock ‘n roll–it feels completely different to me now. I haven’t achieved medicine for a very long time, I’m very well being acutely aware. However the power continues to be there, and we love being on stage. We are actually avoiding the chaos as a lot as doable. This stuff don’t occur these days.
Hey, I have to say, Keith and Mick outlived most.”
Catch Clem on tour with Blondie by way of November.
