CLEM BURKE, EX-DRUMMER

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Date and place of birth and R.I.P.: November 24, 1954 Bayonne, New Jersey, USA - April 6, 2025.

SHOWS WITH THE RAMONES: Clem Burke died at age 70 following a battle with cancer on April 6, 2025. He was one of eight Ramones members as he drummed in two Ramones shows in 1987:
August 28, 1987: The Living Room, Providence, RI, USA.
August 29, 1987: City Gardens, Trenton, New Jersey, USA.
He used then name Elvis Ramone. Clem was a great drummer but he was fired after those performances because his drumming could not keep up with the rest of the band. In September, 1987, Marky Ramone returned to the band. Before Clem's shows drummer Richie Ramone had quit. Clem told me (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) in 2023 that he had no chance to practise with the Ramones in advance well in 1987.
You can read George DuBose's memories and comments (he was the official Ramones promo photographer) of the photo session taken of Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone and Elvis Ramone by him from DuBose's book or from mine third book Ramones: Soundrack Of Our Lives.

SOMETHING ELSE: According to Blondie's website (2025), Clem started playing the drums when he was 14 in his school orchestra but was kicked out for playing too loud. In the 1970's he answered a Blondie's ad in the Village Voice (newspaper in New York) seeking a "freak energy" rock drummer, kicking off his decades-long career with the Blondie.

The Ramones and Blondie were doing many things together especially in 1970's. The Blondie played at the Joey Ramone's 50th birthday party / memorial event on May 19, 2001. As a part of tribute band or with other bands Clem Burke played at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bashes in 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020... (what I looked information from this my page).

I attended once-in-i-a-lifetime event on January 28, 2023. CJ Ramone and Clem Burke played then first and last time a full set (around 15-17 songs) Ramones songs together. That happened at the Mosrite 70th Anniversary Super Bash at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in LA, USA on January 28, 2023. I was also in the practise day before. Then Clem, CJ, Jiro Okabe, Alex Kane and Pete Sosa had a practise.
Clem was a real gentlemen and we had nice chats. We also did a short interview to upcoming document. Clem and I spoke of Joey Ramone Birthday Bashes, about Joey, his few Ramones shows... One surprising thing he explained was related to him and the Ramones in 1970's.
During that night in Los Angeles we had We're A Happy Family feeling. I traveled to event from Finland, Gonzalo Reinoso (Sapo Ramone) from Argentina, Marcus Padula from Brazil, Randy Wisebrod from Mexico) etc.

In addition to Blondie albums Clem Burke does play also for example in Jiro Okabe's album Return Of The Kamikazi and The 69 Cats album. The 69 Cats is/was fronted by Jyrki 69 of The 69 Eyes.