Late Musician Played in a ‘Controversial’ Tribute Band to His Own Group

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Late Musician Played in a ‘Controversial’ Tribute Band to His Own Group originally appeared on Parade.

Blondie has been in the news of late with iconic singer Deborah Harry celebrating her 80th birthday and the band’s future in doubt following the death of drummer extraordinaire Clem Burke.

While the real Blondie may never perform live again, fans may be able to catch an incredible simulation as the tribute band Bootleg Blondie continues to perform in the U.K.

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Bootleg Blondie is not just another tribute band. It once counted Blondie drummer Clem Burke as a member.

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In a 2022 interview with this writer, Burke discussed bands carrying on with few original members and the subject of Bootleg Blondie came up.

“Someone was making a joke that there's a whole new genre of bands like that now. … I’ve toured in the U.K. with my friends who have a Blondie tribute band called Bootleg Blondie,” he said. “It’s a very interesting experience for me, although somewhat controversial, but I’m able to see that the legacy of Blondie is really the songs.”

As Burke implied, sources told us that there were people in the Blondie camp that were not too happy about Blondie’s drummer spending his time away from the band in Bootleg Blondie, but that didn’t stop Burke from playing with the band.

Related: Blondie Drummer Clem Burke Dead at 70

Gary Valentine, an early member of Blondie who left the band in 1977 after writing the classics “X-Offender” and “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear,” has also performed with Bootleg Blondie on occasion. Burke even worked on writing a rock opera with Bootleg Blondie during the pandemic.

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Bootleg Blondie has several upcoming gigs in the U.K. lined up, including a tribute show titled “Dreaming of Clem Burke,” on July 31 in London featuring Valentine as a special guest. Part of the proceeds from that gig will go to Lustgarden Pancreatic Cancer Research. At the moment, the band has no U.S. shows booked but they performed at the legendary CBGB in New York in 2006 before the club shut down.

Late Musician Played in a ‘Controversial’ Tribute Band to His Own Group first appeared on Parade on Jul 3, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.