Blondie (band)

Blondie
Blondie in 1977. From left to right: Gary Valentine, Clem Burke, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri
Blondie in 1977. From left to right: Gary Valentine, Clem Burke, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1974–1982
  • 1997–present
Labels
MembersDebbie Harry
Chris Stein
Clem Burke
Leigh Foxx
Matt Katz-Bohen
Tommy Kessler
Past membersJimmy Destri
Nigel Harrison
Frank Infante
Gary Valentine
Fred Smith
Ivan Kral
Billy O'Connor
Websiteblondie.net

Blondie is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein.[1] The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s.

The band's first two albums contained strong elements of punk and new wave, and although highly successful in the UK and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the US until the release of their critically acclaimed third album Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next two years, the band released a string of hit singles,[2] including "Heart of Glass" (US No. 1), "One Way or Another", "Dreaming", "Call Me" (US No. 1), "Atomic", "The Tide Is High" (US No. 1), and "Rapture" (US No. 1).[3] The band became noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles, incorporating elements of disco, pop, reggae, funk and early hip hop music.

Blondie disbanded after the release of their sixth studio album, The Hunter, in 1982. Harry continued to pursue a solo career with varied results after taking a few years off to care for partner Stein, who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin.[4] The band re-formed in 1997,[5] achieving renewed success and their sixth number one single in the UK with "Maria" in 1999, exactly 20 years after their first UK number one single, "Heart of Glass".

The group toured and performed throughout the world[6] during the following years, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.[7] Blondie has sold over 40 million records worldwide[8][9] and continues to actively perform. The band's eleventh studio album, Pollinator, was released on May 5, 2017.

  1. ^ Chater, David (December 13, 2008). "The X Factor; Iraq: The Legacy; Outnumbered; Blondie; Peter Serafinowicz". Time. London. Retrieved April 26, 2010.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Blondie". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2006.
  3. ^ Crampton, Luke; Rees, Dafydd (1996). The Q Book of Punk Legends. Enfield, UK: Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 17–25.
  4. ^ "Blondie Is Back". MTV.com. April 29, 1998. Archived from the original on June 18, 2001. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  5. ^ Brewster, Bill (January 26, 2018). "Debbie Harry on Blondie's Past and Present". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "Official Blondie Web Site: Gig List – Blondie". Archive.blondie.net. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Biography". archive.blondie.net. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "Blondie's Return to the Beat". Rolling Stone. April 13, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2010.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT: "No Principals Tour"". blondie.net. June 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.