Health | Rock drummers 'are top athletes' Playing the drums for a rock band requires the stamina of a Premiership footballer, research suggests. Tests on Clem Burke, the veteran Blondie drummer, revealed that 90 minutes of drumming could raise his heart rate to 190 beats a minute. Despite rock's reputation for unhealthy living, Dr Marcus Smith, from Chichester University, said drummers needed "extraordinary stamina". A hour in concert could burn between 400 and 600 calories, he said. Clem Burke, who provided the beat for hits such as "Heart of Glass", "Atomic" and "Call Me" was invited to take part in the eight-year project by Blondie fan Dr Smith. It is hoped that the results could help develop outreach programmes for overweight children who are not interested in sport. Burke was connected to equipment to measure his heart rate and oxygen uptake, and the levels of lactic acid in his blood.
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