Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Clem Burke Sonic DNA”?
Artist Statement
I was honored to create this tribute print of Clem Burke, the powerhouse drummer of Blondie, based on a couple of photos by Bobby Grossman. Blondie is part of my musical DNA. Clem, Chris, Debbie, the core members of Blondie —are all heroes of mine, but we're talking about Clem right now. My first almost encounter with Clem was in Los Angeles when our studio was in the Wiltern Theater building. I used to park at the top of the parking garage, and one day, I pulled up in what I thought was my space, only to find a sign that said "Reserved for Clem Burke." I thought maybe I should just hang out there until he arrives, but then I thought that might be a little bit uncool. So instead of waiting and stalking him, I just put an Andre the Giant Has a Posse sticker on the sign, hoping that that would be a little message of recognition and solidarity. Later, I got to become friends with Clem, Debbie, and Chris, which felt like a miracle. Everybody in Blondie has been incredibly cool, but Clem was living in LA, so we would see each other fairly frequently. He invited me to some music shows, he would come to art shows, and we'd see each other at a lot of events around town. He was always so cool and friendly to the point that he even voluntarily played drums with a pretty amazing group of musicians: Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, Billy Idol, and Lee Gorman from Bow Wow Wow as part of an art show at our gallery. They did Sex Pistols, Iggy, and Velvet Underground covers in our parking lot, and Clem didn't ask for a cent. He just did it because he thought it would be a fun thing to do. Everything I experienced from him was always very kind and generous, so I'm very sad that he is no longer around to enrich people's lives in that way. However, I thank him for being part of mine. -Shepard PRINT DETAILS: Clem Burke Sonic DNA. 12 x 16 inches. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 500. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $90.
Summary
Clem Burke Sonic DNA is a 2025 letterpress tribute print honoring Clem Burke, the drummer of Blondie, based on photos by Bobby Grossman. Measuring 12 x 16 inches on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges, it is a signed, numbered first edition of 500, published by Obey Giant at $90, and features the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner. Fairey describes Blondie as part of his musical DNA and shares personal stories of his friendship with Burke. Rendered via letterpress rather than screen print, the work functions as a memorial portrait. Each comes with a Verisart Digital Certificate of Authenticity.
Why It Matters
Clem Burke Sonic DNA is a memorial tribute that fuses Fairey's music portraiture with deeply personal storytelling, making it stand out among his music releases. Fairey calls Blondie part of his musical DNA and recounts intimate anecdotes, from finding a parking spot reserved for Burke and leaving an Andre the Giant Has a Posse sticker as a gesture of solidarity, to later friendship and Burke voluntarily drumming with Steve Jones, Billy Idol, and Lee Gorman at a Fairey gallery show. That narrative depth, paired with the elegiac tone, gives the print emotional resonance rare in commemorative posters. The choice of letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges and an Obey publishing chop signals a more crafted, fine-art object than Fairey's standard screen prints, which collectors of his rarer formats will note. Based on photographs by Bobby Grossman, it ties into the documented visual history of the New York punk scene. As a signed edition of 500 honoring a recently departed musician, it carries genuine memorial significance for fans of Blondie and of Fairey's music canon.
Collector Perspective
This print appeals to Blondie fans, collectors of Fairey's music portraiture, and those who seek his less common letterpress works. The letterpress process on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges and the Obey publishing chop distinguishes it as a more crafted object than his typical screen prints, which adds desirability for format-focused collectors. At 12 x 16 inches it is an intimate piece that works well framed in a music-themed grouping. The signed, numbered edition of 500 with a Verisart certificate provides documentation, and the memorial framing gives it lasting narrative weight. The $90 issue price reflects the more specialized production. It fits collections built around Fairey's music series or his portrait and tribute works honoring departed musicians.
Historical Context
Clem Burke Sonic DNA sits within Fairey's extensive music-tribute tradition, here taking a memorial form for the Blondie drummer. Fairey roots the piece in his personal history with the band, weaving the Andre the Giant Has a Posse sticker into his account of an early near-encounter with Burke and recounting a later friendship that included Burke drumming alongside Steve Jones, Billy Idol, and Lee Gorman at a Fairey gallery event. Based on photographs by Bobby Grossman, the print links to the documented imagery of the punk and new-wave era. Produced as a letterpress edition of 500 with hand-deckled edges and the Obey publishing chop, it reflects Fairey's occasional turn to more crafted formats for especially personal subjects, extending his portrait and music canon into 2025.
FAQ
Who is honored in this print?
The print is a tribute to Clem Burke, the drummer of Blondie, whom Fairey calls a hero and part of his musical DNA. It is based on a couple of photos by Bobby Grossman. Fairey shares personal stories of his friendship with Burke and expresses sadness that he is no longer around.
What printing process and paper were used?
Clem Burke Sonic DNA is a letterpress print on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. It measures 12 x 16 inches, includes the Obey publishing chop in the lower left corner, and is signed by Shepard Fairey. The format differs from Fairey's usual screen prints.
What is the edition size and price?
It is a numbered first edition of 500, published by Obey Giant, with an original release price of $90. Each print comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart.
How does the OBEY sticker figure into the story?
Fairey recounts pulling into a Los Angeles parking spot reserved for Clem Burke and, instead of waiting, placing an Andre the Giant Has a Posse sticker on the sign as a message of recognition and solidarity. He later became friends with Burke and other Blondie members.
Related Works
About the Artist
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina) is an American street artist, graphic designer, and activist, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His 1989 “André the Giant Has a Posse” sticker grew into the global OBEY GIANT campaign — an ongoing experiment in propaganda, obedience, and visual culture. He reached worldwide recognition with the 2008 “Hope” portrait of Barack Obama, now held by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Across screen prints, stencils, murals, and collage, Fairey channels propaganda aesthetics toward themes of peace, justice, environmentalism, and civil rights. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and LACMA.