Blondie confirm new album will be released this year following Clem Burke’s death
Guitarist Chris Stein has revealed that a new Blondie album will be released in the “last quarter” of 2025, following the tragic passing of drummer Clem Burke in April.
Burke passed away in April at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer. Lead singer Debbie Harry recruited Burke to join Blondie in 1974, and Burke officially joined the group the following year. Burke was pivotal in keeping Blondie together; after they disbanded in the 1980s, he garnered a seismic career of his own, drumming for the likes of Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, and Iggy Pop.
It had already been announced before Burke’s death that Blondie were set to share a new album in 2025, though no release date was given. However, Stein announced via a simple post on X that, “Next Blondie album should be around last quarter this year.”
A fan then asked if Burke played on much of the album. Stein responded, revealing that he “played the whole thing”, though he added he didn’t know if the band would be touring.
A tour doesn’t seem likely, as earlier this month Harry admitted she can’t see herself “being onstage as Blondie” following Burke’s death.
She said, “It’s sad that with Clem’s passing and without having Chris on stage, I can’t see myself being on stage as Blondie, even though I am the face of Blondie. But I’m proud of the music, and I would still like to do music.”
Stein also no longer performs live with the group. This is due to health issues, which he called “dumbass” in 2022: “I’ve been dealing with a dumbass condition called Atrial Fibrillation or AFib, which is irregular heartbeats and combined with the meds I take for it, I’m too fatigued to deal.”
Blondie’s most recent studio album was Pollinator, released in 2017. It was their eleventh studio album.
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