The Other Side of the Dream
There are drummers who keep time, and then there are drummers who create an engine room so fierce, so relentless, and so utterly full of life that the entire band has no choice but to become legendary just to keep up. Clem Burke was the latter.
For over fifty years, Clem was the unstoppable pulse behind Blondie, translating the grit, sweat, and electricity of the New York punk underground into a global pop-rock revolution. Now, in his posthumous memoir, The Other Side of the Dream, we get his story straight from the source: told with the same candour, sharp wit, and stick-twirling elan that defined every beat he ever played.
Clem began putting these memories down on paper more than two decades ago. Between the endless cycles of recording sessions, international tours, and chasing the next great rhythm, the manuscript kept getting pushed aside. But when cancer treatment and illness ultimately forced him off the road, finishing the book shifted from a sidelined project to a final, vital mission. He crossed the finish line shortly before he passed away, leaving behind a remarkable parting gift for anyone who believes in the raw, transformative power of rock and roll.
This isn’t a sanitized, ghostwritten recap of past glories. This is the real deal—a backstage pass to the chaotic, brilliant birth of CBGB punk, the creative friction and magic shared with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, and the dizzying highs and brutal lows of navigating stardom when the rules of the music industry were being rewritten every single day. As Debbie and Chris put it, Clem’s talent, energy, and relentless work ethic were simply immeasurable, touching everyone lucky enough to share a stage or a studio with him.
If you care about music, about New York City history, or about a life lived entirely behind the kit with total, uncompromised passion, The Other Side of the Dream is essential reading. Grab a copy, turn it up, and hear it straight from the heartbeat of Blondie.