Blondie
Blondie is a US rock band which has been around for over three decades. The band was founded by the infamous Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. Current band members are: Debbie Harry – lead vocals (1975–1982, 1997–present), Chris Stein – guitar, bass (1975–1982, 1997–present), Clem Burke – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1975–1982, 1997–present), Leigh Foxx – bass (2004–present; session musician: 1997-2004), Matt Katz-Bohen – keyboards, piano, organ (2008–present) and Tommy Kessler – guitar (2010–present.
Debby Harry’s musical career began in the ‘60s when she was in a band The Wind in the Willows, as well as being a Playboy bunny. Wanting to join the burgeoning punk rock scene in New York, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein produced their debut album Blondie (UK #75, AUS #14) which was released in December 1976. The album received critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone magazine.
Blondie next achieved fame in Australia in 1977 when Oz TV Program Countdown played their tune "In the Flesh", rather than the intended song “X-Offender”. After the success of the Australian album and single, Blondie went on tour although she became ill and cancelled her Brisbane show which caused an outcry from her many fans.
The band next released their second album two years later and was called Plastic Letters which reached number 10 in the UK album charts and number 78 in Australia. Blondie toured vigorously in the late ‘70s and played a gig at London’s Roundhouse. Current members for Blondie at the time included Frank Infante (guitar, bass guitar), and Nigel Harrison (bass guitar), expanding the band to a six-piece for the first time.
In quick succession, Blondie released their third album which propelled the band into mega stardom. Parallel Lines (UK #1, US #6, Australia #2) did tremendously well in all continents and spawned the hits singles "Picture This" (UK #12) and "Hanging on the Telephone" (UK #5).
By the disco era of late ‘70s/early ‘80s Blondie were moving into the realms of disco infused with reggae and had massive success with "Heart of Glass" (their first U.S. hit). Debbie Harry was most popular with the press and it was her image and voice which really made Blondie famous. Blondie was nominated for a Grammy for her single “Call Me” which was produced by the infamous early innovators of electronic music, Giorgio Moroder and went straight to number one in the UK and the US.
Her fifth album Autoamerican (UK #3, US #7, Australia #8) moved away from her punk-rock roots and was more jazz inspired. It was a success in the US with the number one for "The Tide Is High" and “Rapture”.
By the early ‘80s Blondie brought out a ‘best of’ compilation before the band experienced tensions and decided to go on hold when Chris Stein was diagnosed with a life threatening illness and the band members went their separate ways.
By the mid ‘90s members from Blondie reconnected and the band became a four piece band and released some new material. The band went on a 30th anniversary tour of Parallel Lines across Israel, the UK, Russia, Europe and Scandinavia and then further tours in North America.
In 2010, Blondie went on their "Endangered Species Tour" and featured new tracks and some classics.
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