<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">American band Blondie announced the death of renowned drummer Clem Burke, at the age of 70, after a long battle with cancer.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In an official statement, the band confirmed that Burke was an irreplaceable member of their career, without revealing any further details about the circumstances or date of his death.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> "He was the heartbeat of the band"... Blondie mourns its star</h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In a touching farewell, Blondie said on their Instagram account:</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> “Clem was more than just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie. His talent, energy, and passion for music were unparalleled, and his contributions to our success are immeasurable.”</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The band also noted that Burke's influence extended beyond his band, as he collaborated with prominent names in the music world, such as the Eurythmics, the Ramones, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Nancy Sinatra, and others, praising his rich legacy and diverse contributions that spanned decades and multiple musical genres.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> A tumultuous artistic career that began in school</h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Clem Burke was born in New Jersey and began playing drums at the age of fourteen in his school band, but was expelled for playing too loudly.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> His professional career began in the 1970s, when he responded to an advertisement in the Village Voice newspaper seeking an "energetic" drummer, and his long artistic journey began with singer Debbie Harry and his bandmates in the band Blondie.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Clem Burke remained true to his self-proclaimed "Rock 'n' Roll Fighter" until the very end of his musical career.</p>