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Blondie biography

Blondie is an American rock band led by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American new wave and punk rock scenes. Their first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although successful in the United Kingdom and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of Parallel Lines in 1978. In Canada, they were regarded as an underground band until the release of the subsequent album Eat to the Beat. Over the next three years, the band achieved several hit singles and was noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a new wave band.

The band broke up after the release of the 1982 album "The Hunter". Debbie Harry (although she took a few years off to care for her partner, Chris Stein, who had a life-threatening illness) became an extremely successful solo artist. Keyboardist Jimmy Destri also embarked on a solo career of his own with somewhat less success than Harry.

The group reformed in 1997, achieving renewed success and a number one single in the United Kingdom with "Maria" in 1999. The group toured and performed throughout the world over the following years, and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the RockWalk of Fame in 2006.

History

Early career (1975–1978)

In the early 1970s, Chris Stein moved to New York City from Brooklyn. There, inspired by the burgeoning new music scene New York Dolls, et al, aimed to join a similar band. He joined The Stilettos in 1973 as their guitarist and formed a romantic relationship with the band's vocalist, Debbie Harry. A former waitress and Playboy Bunny, Harry had been a member of the folk-rock band, The Wind in the Willows, in the late 1960s. In 1974, Stein parted ways with The Stilettos and Elda Gentile, the band's originator. Stein and Harry formed a new band with drummer Billy O'Connor and bassist Fred Smith. After some personnel turnover (other early members included sisters Tish Bellomo and Eileen Bellomo on backing vocals) by 1975, Stein and Harry were joined by drummer Clem Burke, keyboard player Jimmy Destri and bass player Gary Valentine. Originally billed as Angel and the Snake the band renamed themselves Blondie in late 1975. The name was derived from comments made by truck drivers who called "Hey, Blondie" to Harry as they drove by. Later, band members were bemused learn that the name was shared by Adolph Hitlers dog 'Blondi'. Blondie recorded one song semi-anonymously under the name 'Adolphs Dog'. This on an Iggy Pop tribute album.

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