Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey)
Introduction
Born July 1, 1945, in Miami, Florida, Deborah Harry was adopted by the time she was three months old. The daughter of Richard and Catherine Harry, who both managed a family store, the family relocated to a suburb of Patterson, New Jersey. Debbie Harry began her musical career by singing in the church choir, overcoming her innate shyness.
She also spent her formative years hating school and craving the hustle and bustle of the big cities, often going to New York City on Saturdays and walking around Greenwich Village. Completing high school and attending university, Debbie Harry moved to New York in 1965. After landing in the Big Apple, she worked a series of odd jobs - waitress at Max's Kansas City and a Playboy bunny - in and around New York.
The Making of a band
Blondie was one of the few "new wave" bands that grew out of the punk sound of the 70s and found pop and alternative success in the 80s. Blondie consisted of Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (on guitar), Frank Infante (on guitar), Clement Burke (on drums), Gary Valentine (on bass until replaced by Frank Infante), Nigel Harrison (on bass), and James Destri (on keyboards) The band formed in New York in 1974 after Debbie Harry left a folk-rock group called Wind In The Willows (she had previously been in an all-girl band called The Stilettoes where she met Stein). The band's name is said to have come from what truck drivers used to call Debbie Harry when she walked by - some argue it's from the popular comic strip character.
The band played in New York downtown circuit - CBGB's, Max's Kansas City and Mothers. They collected a big following and in 1976 they recorded their first album BLONDIE. It was released in 1977 and was well received. After a successful stint in L.A., the band toured in support of Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
Chart Success
In the summer of 1977 they released their second album. Plastic Letters, and toured Europe and Asia. In March of 1978 the single "Denis (Denee)" hit #2 in the UK. That summer the band worked with producer Mike Chapman to hone their radio sound and create the album Parallel Lines, The single "Picture This" made #12 in the UK and the follow-up "Hanging on the Telephone" hit #5. At the end of the year Debbie made her first film, Union City.
In 1979 Blondie had their first #1 US hit with "Heart Of Glass" which also sold over a million copies in the UK. The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The fourth single from Parallel Lines, "Sunday Girl" also hit #1 in the UK. In September 1979 the band's fourth album "Eat To The Beat" was released, along with the first ever album length video. Before the year's end Blondie had continued their chart presence in the UK with the #2 hit "Dreaming."
In February 1980 they hit #1 in England again with the best selling single of the year "Atomic." Two months later they hit #1 in the US a second time with "Call Me," from the film American Gigolo. Before the end of the year Eat to the Beat was certified platinum and Debbie was on "The Muppet Show."
The fifth Blondie album, Autoamerican was released in January and the first single "The Tide Is High" made #1 in the UK. The first reggae tinged hit, it was #1 in the U.S. by March. The band appeared on the popular TV show "Solid Gold," and soon the album was solid platinum.
Going Solo & Movie! Lights! Action!
In 1981, Debbie Harry released her debut solo effort, Koo Koo, produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, which virtually tanked commercially. But at the same time, more problems surfaced. Long-time companion Chris Stein was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder. After being at his side and tending to his health for four years, Stein recovered and Harry returned to the music business. Debbie Harry led Blondie through a string of hit singles and albums, but by the band's sixth album "The Hunter" in 1982, the spark sizzled. In 1986, she released Rockbird and the single "French Kissing in the USA" topped the charts in Australia and the UK. During this time period, Debbie Harry appeared in small independent films or what could be classified as "B" movies. In 1989, using the more formal moniker "Deborah Harry," she released Def, Dumb & Blonde, an album that was critically praised, but again, never reached the commercial heights of her former band. Also in 1989, Debbie Harry had a bit part in Woody Allen's New York Stories, but fewer film roles ensued in the '90s.
After collaborations with numerous artists like the Jazz Passengers, a hits compilation of Debbie Harry's solo work was released in 1999. Most Of All: The Best Of Deborah Harry showcased her talent, but it was secondary to the much bigger news... Debbie went on to appear in numerous films and plays and to create music in various contexts. In recent years she has been the featured vocalist of the Jazz Passengers. Jimmy left music for a while to become a family man and contractor. Chris produced various bands in New York. Clem continued to record and tour with top acts.
Transformation for a new decade
Sixteen years later the band members were used to being apart, but miraculously they were still talking. Responding to a request, they reformed to play a concert and had so much fun and found so much chemistry remaining that they decided to try to make some new music. That worked out so well that they reformed and made a new album. No Exit, the seventh Blondie studio album, was produced by Craig Leon, who had actually produced the band's first single, X-Offender, and worked on the first album assisting producer Richard Gottherer.
No Exit surprised many listeners because it sounded like the band had been together all along. It wasn't a typical, perfunctory, belabored comeback. It was a perfect, up-to-date evolution of Blondie - a great collection perfectly crafted pop songs. The trademark elements were still there: that perfect, propulsive beat; Debbie's unmistakable voice, seductive, soulful yet ironic; atmospheric keyboards, sometimes lush, sometimes eerie; and brilliantly articulated guitar lines. It was an auspicious return, highlighted by the hit "Maria" which went to #1 in 14 countries. The album sold more than two million units worldwide and, behind it, the band completed two tours of the U.S, the U.K. and Europe.
The current line-up is Debbie Harry - vocals, Chris Stein - Guitar, Jimmy Destri - Keyboards, Clem Burke - Drums, Paul Carbonara - Guitar and Leigh Foxx - Bass. Nigel Harrison and Frank Infante are no longer in the band.
Blondie Discography
Singles
18 February 1978 Denis (Denee) - Chart Position No.2, 14 weeks on chart*
06 May 1978 (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear - Chart Position No.10, 9 weeks on chart*
26 August 1978 Picture This - Chart Position No.12, 11 weeks on chart
11 November 1978 Hanging on the Telephone - Chart Position No.5, 12 weeks on chart*
27 January 1979 Heart of Glass - Chart Position No.1, 12 weeks on chart*
19 May 1979 Sunday Girl - Chart Position No.1, 13 weeks on chart*
29 September 1979 Dreaming - Chart Position No.2, 8 weeks on chart*
26 November 1979 Union City Blue - Chart Position No.13, 10 weeks on chart
23 February 1980 Atomic - Chart Position No.1, 9 weeks on chart*
12 April 1980 Call Me - Chart Position No.1, 9 weeks on chart*
08 November 1980 The Tide is High - Chart Position No.1, 12 weeks on chart*
24 January 1981 Rapture - Chart Position No.5, 8 weeks on chart*
08 May 1982 Island of Lost Souls - Chart Position No.11, 9 weeks on chart
24 July 1982 War Child - Chart Position No.39, 4 weeks on chart
03 December 1988 Denis (re-mix) - Chart Position No.50, 3 weeks on chart
11 February 1989 Call Me (re-mix) - Chart Position No.61, 2 weeks on chart
10 September 1994 Atomic (re-mix) - Chart Position No.19, 4 weeks on chart
08 July 1995 Heart of Glass (re-mix) - Chart Position No.15, 3 week s on chart
28 October 1995 Union City Blue (re-mix) - Chart Position No.31, 2 weeks on chart
13 February 1999 Maria - Chart Position No.1, 12 weeks on chart*
12 June 1999 Nothing Is Real But The Girl - Chart Position No. 26, 3 weeks on chart
18 October 2003 Good Boys - Chart Position: Unknown
(*) Top 10 Single
Albums
1976 Blondie
1977 Plastic Letters
1978 Parallel Lines
1979 Eat To The Beat
1980 Autoamerican
1981 The Best of Blondie
1982 The Hunter
1999 No Exit
1999 Blondie Live
2002 Greatest Hits
2003 The Curse of Blondie
