Most Valuable Player
Clem Burke and me, August 2004, backstage at the Underground Garage Festival, where he was playing in Nancy Sinatra's band. Creem Magazine's Bill Moriarty snapped this pic.
Clem is one of punk's Most Valuable Players - he's still playing, recording and touring with Blondie. During Blondie's hiatus, Clem helped out, filled in and toured with a number of artists and bands includling Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Romantics, Dramarama, Eurhythmics, Chequered Past and The Plimsouls, pictured below.
Clem is a stand-up guy and one of the best friends you could have. He loves music and is always checking out new bands, keeping up with the times and keeping in touch with old friends. I should know - I am proud to say that Clem and I have been pals for something like 28 years now, and even my Mom thought he was a stand up guy!
Can you imagine being a young guy from New Jersey, digging the rock n roll, and one day happening upon the album by lovely blonde kitten, Nancy Sinatra, a local legend and hearing "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and playing air drums in your bedroom.... only to find that years later, you're playing drums behind this still-beautiful lady, in front of multiple thousands of people? To top it off, from where Clem sat, he got a bird's eye view of Nancy's go-go dancers:
Good things come to you when you are a good guy.
Clem is the best!
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