Intercourse Pistols and Frank Carter have used their present in Sydney to pay tribute to Blondie drummer, Clem Burke. Discover footage beneath.
It comes after information of the artist’s loss of life was shared on Monday (April 7) by way of a press release from his bandmates frontwoman Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. Of their tribute, they described the sticksman because the “heartbeat” of the group, and revealed that he died aged 70 following a battle with most cancers.
From there, numerous tributes started to flood in from followers and fellow artists, together with shifting responses shared by Tim Burgess, Dave Davies, Johnny Marr and extra.
Final night time (April 8), Intercourse Pistols took to the stage with Frank Carter, and devoted the set to Burke, who was an in depth good friend of the band for a few years.
“Good night Sydney,” the frontman stated initially of the present. “In a short time I simply need to take a second to dedicate this present to an incredible man and a good friend of the lads, Clem Burke. An unimaginable drummer who sadly handed away yesterday.”
He continued: “Tonight is for Clem and it’s for friendship.”
The footage was shared by the band’s bassist Glen Matlock – who had labored alongside Burke for a few years as a member of Blondie.
In addition to the footage from the gig, Matlock additionally shared a picture of the 2 of them collectively and paid his respects following information of the loss of life.
“Such a tragic information couple of days. What a drummer, what a good friend, what a man. Will miss you large time mate,” he wrote within the caption.
Burke joined the line-up for Blondie in 1975, and was credited with holding the group collectively after they thought-about disbanding following the departure of unique bassist Fred Smith.
Whereas he was most generally recognized for his work with the band, he did go on to work with many extra large names within the trade whereas Blondie have been on hiatus between 1982 and 1997. This included quickly becoming a member of the Ramones beneath the title Elvis Ramone, appearing as drummer for The Romantics between 1990 and 2004, and enjoying alongside Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Pete Townshend and Eurythmics.
Each Burke and Matlock labored collectively within the line-up for Iggy Pop, and in 2011 they teamed up once more to type a band known as The Worldwide Swingers. The road-up additionally featured James Stevenson from Chelsea, Era X and Gene Loves Jezebel, and Gary Twinn from Supernaut and Twenty Flight Rockers.
Again in 2023, Matlock caught up with NME backstage at Glastonbury to recall his time working with the long-lasting drummer and the way he got here to collaborate with Blondie for the primary time.
I believe I met them first once I did a for-one-night-only gig with Sid Vicious on the Electrical Ballroom in ‘78 or ‘79,” he stated. “Blondie turned up as a band, and I believe that’s once I met Clem [Burke] and Debbie [Harry] for the primary time.
“What I assumed was fairly candy about them was that when bands go on tour and have an evening off, everybody tends to filter off someplace – however they all the time appeared to be out and about as a band. I assumed that was good.”
He additionally stated he determined to get again with Blondie when obtained an surprising telephone name from drummer Clem Burke.
“I used to be in the course of doing my risotto, it was practically prepared, then the telephone rang, I had a mate spherical so stirred it for me,” stated Matlock. “I informed Clem, ‘My risotto is almost prepared and also you’re spoiling it, so get on with it’.
“He stated, ‘We want a bass participant’, I stated, ‘I assumed you bought one’, he stated, ‘It’s not figuring out, are you able to come over?’ I assumed he meant in a few months however he stated, ‘No, subsequent week’. I stated, ‘Ah, let me assume’.
“I did in a single day and I knew I ought to. I’ve labored with Clem on a great deal of issues over time – some alright, some a bit hair-brained – however we play effectively collectively and I like Blondie’s materials. They’ve obtained an awesome physique of labor they usually all the time appear to push the envelope in some way, barely. Additionally they have good basslines.”