CLEM BURKE,
EX-DRUMMER
BACK
TO INDEX PAGE OF RAMONES MEMBERS.
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.