Blondie's Burke says band's time could be up

Blondie drummer Clem Burke says frontwoman Debbie Harry has hinted at retirement – and he knows the band can't go on without her.

Rumours circulated in July last year that the vocalist, now 69, was considering ending her career. Those reports were slammed in a band statement which said: “No plans to stop – don’t believe everything you read.”

Burke had been quoted as saying the band were “trying to keep going as long as possible” but that Harry, who’s 11 years older than her colleagues, was unconvinced.

Now the NME reports the drummer saying: “By the time we get to Vancouver we’ll have toured Europe, played Glastonbury and done a number of big festivals in North America. As for the rumours of the last tour, we’ve decided we’ll live for ever.

“But Debbie is older than me and has hinted it could be time. Obviously without her, there is no Blondie.”

They play Bristol’s O2 Academy on August 19 and Leicester Academy on August 20.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.