Blondie
February / March 1978 - catching up with mates - "Did you see Blondie on Top of the Pops last night?".
"Yes, gorgeous wasn't she".
"Yes, gorgeous wasn't she".
Although the single, "Denis" I recall, was tremendous it was the fact that Debbie Harry was the answer to every young male's dreams which caused the stir.
"(I Am Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear", followed and Blondie were well and truly on the radar.
The same year, "Parallel Lines" was released containing a string of hit singles including "Hanging On The Telephone", "Picture This" and "Heart Of Glass"
The same year, "Parallel Lines" was released containing a string of hit singles including "Hanging On The Telephone", "Picture This" and "Heart Of Glass"
Still one of my favourite albums. It also contains a cover of the Buddy Holly tune "I'm Gonna Love You Too" and the hypnotic "Fade Away and Radiate".
A friend managed to get us tickets in the tenth row at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1978 and every red blooded male thought that Debbie Harry was deliberately blinding them when she came on stage in a mirror-coat to sing "Fade Away And Radiate".
Keith Moon had just passed and I recall Clem Burke wrecked his drum kit in tribute.
More hits followed over the next couple of years.
Keith Moon had just passed and I recall Clem Burke wrecked his drum kit in tribute.
More hits followed over the next couple of years.
"The Tide Is High", "Call Me", "Atomic", "Dreaming","Union City Blue" and perhaps most eye-openingly "Rapture", which proved that white girls can rap with the best of them.
In 1982, the band split due to the usual stuff - drug use, financial mismanagement and member implosion.
Debbie re-branded to Deborah Harry, and had a couple of solo projects.
Clem Burke became an in-demand session drummer and played for a while with the Eurythmics.
Chris Stein was looked after by then partner Deborah Harry during his trials with pemphigus (an auto-immune disease of the skin).
Nothing occured musically until 1997 when Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri and Clem Burke reconvened.
The "No Exit" album appeared and from this a typically good Blondie single , "Maria" reached #1 - 20 years after "Heart Of Glass" had given Blondie their first chart-topping hit.
Still making music and touring, Blondie were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Unfortunately, a spat occurred between the current band members and original members, Nigel Harrison and Frank Infante.
Recently, Blondie released some more (generally pretty good) new material on "Ghosts of Download" which was packaged with an album of remastered remixes of the hits to celebrate their 40th Anniversary.
A magnificent 2014 appearance on the Other Stage at Glastonbury confirmed that Debbie Harry and Blondie still have "IT", which cannot be a bad thing.
In 1982, the band split due to the usual stuff - drug use, financial mismanagement and member implosion.
Debbie re-branded to Deborah Harry, and had a couple of solo projects.
Clem Burke became an in-demand session drummer and played for a while with the Eurythmics.
Chris Stein was looked after by then partner Deborah Harry during his trials with pemphigus (an auto-immune disease of the skin).
Nothing occured musically until 1997 when Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Jimmy Destri and Clem Burke reconvened.
The "No Exit" album appeared and from this a typically good Blondie single , "Maria" reached #1 - 20 years after "Heart Of Glass" had given Blondie their first chart-topping hit.
Still making music and touring, Blondie were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Unfortunately, a spat occurred between the current band members and original members, Nigel Harrison and Frank Infante.
Recently, Blondie released some more (generally pretty good) new material on "Ghosts of Download" which was packaged with an album of remastered remixes of the hits to celebrate their 40th Anniversary.
A magnificent 2014 appearance on the Other Stage at Glastonbury confirmed that Debbie Harry and Blondie still have "IT", which cannot be a bad thing.
General note regarding the pictures:
I have no idea from where some of the photos on this page have come from, and I am not claiming any ownership (unless I have taken them at events or gigs that I have attended).
If you would like a credit mentioned, please contact me.
(26 Feb 2015)
I have no idea from where some of the photos on this page have come from, and I am not claiming any ownership (unless I have taken them at events or gigs that I have attended).
If you would like a credit mentioned, please contact me.
(26 Feb 2015)