Blondie’s new album will be released in “last quarter” of this year, following drummer Clem Burke’s death

19 July, 2025

A new Blondie album will be released this year, following the death of the band’s drummer Clem Burke.

The musician died in April following a “private battle with cancer”. He was 70 years old. Burke had been recruited by frontwoman Harry and guitarist Chris Stein shortly after Blondie formed in 1975.

Before Burke’s death, Blondie were already scheduled to share a new album at some point in 2025. However, an exact release date is not yet known. The forthcoming follow-up to 2017’s ‘Pollinator’ was helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, The War On Drugs).

Now, guitarist Chris Stein has shared that the album will be released around the “last quarter” of 2025. He revealed the news in a post on Twitter/X, with a photo of Debbie Harry and Conglerton in the studio together.

Responding to a fan who then asked if Burke played on much of the album, Stein said that he “played the whole thing”, though he added he didn’t know if the band would be touring.

It comes after Harry said earlier this year that she can’t see a future of live performances as Blondie.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, 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 no longer performs live with the group due to ongoing health issues.

Paying tribute after Burke’s passing, the duo wrote: “Clem was not just a drummer; he was the heartbeat of Blondie.” They added: “His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable.”

In 2022, it was revealed that Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock would be performing on Blondie’s next full-length LP. He has also been playing with the group at their recent live shows, including their set at Glastonbury 2023.

During an interview with NME late last year, Matlock gave an update on where the project was at when he recorded his parts. “It was sounding good. It was all kind of heavy, a bit atonal,” he explained.

“Some of the other guys in the band are younger than me and they try and be a bit more modern. I just think you should get the song across. But I’ve not heard the finished thing with Debbie [Harry]’s vocals and stuff. It’s gonna be exciting listening to it.”

When asked when fans could expect to hear the album, he responded: “I think it’s gonna be early in the new year, but I don’t wanna say too much because I’m just the bass player in Blondie and I’m not 100 per cent sure.”

Harry told NME in 2021 that Blondie were “in the process of setting up a period of time to lay down some tracks” for another LP. “We’re already looking at 10-12 songs, but it feels too early to talk about it,” she said at the time.

Elsewhere in a conversation with Vanity Fair, the frontwoman admitted that undergoing cosmetic surgery “felt necessary” for her career.

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