Blondie (band)

Blondie is an American new wave band formed in New York City in 1974 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein.<ref>Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The band was a pioneer in the American new wave genre and scene of the mid-1970s.

The band's first two albums also contained strong elements of punk. Although 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 in 1978, Parallel Lines. Over the next two years, the band released a string of hit singles,<ref>"Blondie". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2006.</ref> 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).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> The band became noted for its eclectic mixture 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 her partner Stein, who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band re-formed in 1997,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> during the following years, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.<ref name="blondie">Template:Cite web</ref> Blondie has sold over 40 million records worldwide<ref>Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name=no_principals>Template:Cite web</ref> and continues to actively perform. The band's eleventh studio album, Pollinator, was released on Template:Nowrap 2017.

History

1974–1978: Early career

Inspired by the burgeoning new music scene at the Mercer Arts Center in Manhattan, musician Chris Stein sought to join a similar band. He joined the Stilettoes in 1973 as their guitarist and formed a romantic relationship with Debbie Harry, who was one of the band's vocalists, a former waitress and Playboy Bunny.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Harry had been a member of a folk-rock band, The Wind in the Willows, in the late 1960s.<ref name=":1" /> In July 1974, Stein and Harry parted ways with the Stilettoes and Elda Gentile, the band's originator, forming a new band with ex-Stilettoes bandmates Billy O'Connor (drums; born 1953, died 2015)<ref name=post-gazette>Template:Cite news</ref> and Fred Smith (bass).<ref name=":1" /> Originally billed as Angel and the Snake for two shows in August 1974, they had renamed themselves Blondie by October 1974, while Ivan Kral joined the band on guitar.<ref name=":1" /> The new name derived from comments made by truck drivers who catcalled "Hey, Blondie" to Harry as they drove past.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web eNotes.com. 2006. September 12, 2010</ref><ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

By the spring of 1975, O'Connor had left the music business and Smith replaced Richard Hell in Television,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while Kral eventually joined the Patti Smith Group.<ref name=":1" /> Stein and Harry continued the band, and proceeded with auditions to recruit drummer Clem Burke and bassist Gary Valentine (Gary J. Lachman).<ref name=":1" />

Blondie became regular performers at Max's Kansas City and CBGB.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In June 1975, the band's first recording came in the way of a demo produced by Alan Betrock. To fill out their sound, they recruited keyboard player Jimmy Destri in November 1975.<ref name=":1" /> The band signed with Private Stock Records and released their first single "X-Offender" in June 1976, while their debut album, Blondie, was issued in December 1976.<ref name=":1" /> Neither was initially a commercial success, and the band spent the rest of the year touring with Television and visiting the UK.<ref name=":1" /> Blondie opened for David Bowie and Iggy Pop on the latter's US tour in early 1977 supporting The Idiot. Blondie was invited by Bowie and Pop after the pair had heard their debut.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 1977, Valentine decided to leave the band and form his own group, the Know; he was replaced by Frank Infante.<ref name=":1" />

In September 1977, the band bought back its contract with Private Stock and signed with British label Chrysalis Records.<ref>"Talent Talk", Billboard, October 22, 1977: 54</ref> The first album was re-released on the new label in October 1977. Rolling StoneTemplate:'s review of the debut album observed the eclectic nature of the group's music, comparing it both to Phil Spector and to the Who, and commented that the album's two strengths were Richard Gottehrer's production and the persona of Debbie Harry.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

File:Blondie (Debbie Harry) One.jpg

Debbie Harry performing with Blondie in Toronto, 1977

The band's first commercial success occurred in Australia in 1977, when the music television program Countdown mistakenly played their video "In the Flesh", which was the B-side of the single "X-Offender".<ref name=blondie/> Jimmy Destri later credited the show's Molly Meldrum for their initial success, commenting that "we still thank him to this day" for playing the wrong song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 1998 interview, drummer Burke recalled seeing the episode in which the wrong song was played, but he and Stein suggested that it may have been a deliberate subterfuge on the part of Meldrum. Stein asserted that "X-Offender" was "too crazy and aggressive [to become a hit]", while "In the Flesh" was "not representative of any punk sensibility. Over the years, I've thought they probably played both things but liked one better. That's all." In retrospect, Burke described "In the Flesh" as "a forerunner to the power ballad".<ref name="paulcashmere">Template:Cite web</ref>

The single reached number two in Australia,<ref name=kent>Template:Cite book</ref> and the album entered the Australian top twenty in November 1977.<ref name=kent/> A subsequent double-A release of "X-Offender" and "Rip Her to Shreds" reached number 81.<ref name=kent/> A successful Australian tour followed in December 1977, though it was marred by an incident in Brisbane when disappointed fans almost rioted after Harry cancelled a performance due to illness.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 1978, Blondie released their second album, Plastic Letters (UK number 10,<ref name=occ/> US number 78, Australia number 64<ref name=kent/>). The album was recorded as a four-piece during the summer of 1977, with Stein responsible for both bass and guitars.<ref>Template:Cite book Valentine describes his July 4, 1977, departure from the band.</ref> Plastic Letters was promoted extensively throughout Europe and Asia by Chrysalis Records.<ref name=blondie/> The album's first single, "Denis", was a cover version of the Randy and the Rainbows' 1963 hit "Denise".<ref name=":1" /> It reached number two on the British singles charts, while both the album and its second single, "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear", reached the British top ten.<ref name=":1" /> Chart success, along with a successful 1978 UK tour, including a gig at London's Roundhouse,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> made Blondie one of the first American new wave bands to achieve mainstream success in the UK.<ref name=blondie/> With Infante moving to guitar, the British musician Nigel Harrison was hired as the group's full-time bassist, expanding Blondie to a six-piece for the first time and marking a stabilization in the band's line-up.<ref name=":1" />

1978–1981: Mainstream success

Template:Multiple image Blondie completed the recording of their third album, Parallel Lines during the summer of 1978 together with Australian producer Mike Chapman.<ref name=":1" /> It was released in September of that year and reached number one in the UK,<ref name=occ/> number six in the US, and number two in Australia.<ref name=kent/> It finally broke the band into the American market on the strength of the worldwide hit single "Heart of Glass".<ref name=":1" /> Parallel Lines became the group's most successful album, selling 20 million copies worldwide.<ref name="Taylor">Template:Cite news</ref> The album's first two singles were "Picture This" (UK number 12)<ref name=occ/> and "Hanging on the Telephone" (UK number five).<ref name=occ/> As the band previously had success with a cover, Chrysalis Records chose their version of Buddy Holly's "I'm Gonna Love You Too" as the lead single from Parallel Lines in the US. This turned out to be a miscalculation as the single failed to chart.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

"Heart of Glass" was released in early 1979 and the disco-infused<ref name="GRUNDY2011"/><ref name="PARELES1999"/> track topped the UK charts in February 1979,<ref name=occ/> and the US charts in April 1979. It was a reworking of a rock and reggae-influenced song that the group had performed since its formation in the mid-1970s, updated with strong elements of disco music.<ref name=":1" /> Burke later said the revamped version was inspired partly by Kraftwerk and partly by the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive", whose drum beat Burke tried to emulate. He and Stein gave Destri much of the credit for the final result, noting that Destri's appreciation of technology had led him to introduce synthesizers and to rework the keyboard sections.<ref name=undercover>Template:Cite web</ref> Although some critics condemned Blondie for "selling out" by dabbling in disco, the song became a worldwide success and one of the biggest selling singles of 1979.<ref name=":1" /> As the focal point for the band, Harry began to attain a celebrity status that set her apart from the other band members. She also embarked on an acting career and appeared in the film The Foreigner directed by Amos Poe.<ref name=":1" />

Blondie's next single in the US was a more aggressive rock song, "One Way or Another" (US number 24),<ref name=":1" /> though in the UK, an alternate single choice, "Sunday Girl", became a number one hit.<ref name=occ/> Parallel Lines has been ranked number 140 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In June 1979, Blondie, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the summer of 1979, the band returned to the studio with Chapman to record their next album.<ref name=":1" />

Blondie's fourth album, Eat to the Beat (UK number one,<ref name=occ/> US number seventeen, Australia number nine<ref name=kent/>), also produced by Chapman, was released in September 1979. Although well received by critics as a suitable follow-up to Parallel Lines, the album and its singles failed to achieve the same level of success in the US.<ref name=blondie/> In the UK, the album delivered three top 20 hits, including the band's third UK number one ("Atomic", UK number one,<ref name=occ/> US number thirty-nine). The lead track off the album, "Dreaming", reached number two in the UK.<ref name=occ/><ref name=":1" /> But it only made it to number 27 in the US. The second single "Union City Blue" (UK number 13<ref name=occ/>) shared the title of a film featuring Harry, directed by Marcus Reichert.<ref name=":1" /> Along with the inspiration from the film, "Union City Blue"'s lyrics derived from her living in Union City, New Jersey. She worked various jobs across the Hudson River from Manhattan, noting the scenic skyline and passion she embraced while living there, before giving birth to Blondie. The single was not released in the US in favor of the track "The Hardest Part".<ref name=blondie/> Chrysalis Records' Linda Carhart asked Jon Roseman Productions US division to shoot videos for every song and create the first ever video album.<ref name=":1" /> David Mallet directed and Paul Flattery produced it at various locations and studios in and around New York.<ref name=":0" /> It was nominated for a Grammy, the first year the Recording Academy instituted an award for music videos.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of the year, the show filmed at the Apollo theatre in Glasgow was broadcast by the BBC on the Old Grey Whistle Test.<ref name=":1" /> In March 1980, "Atomic" reached number one in the UK and the album was certified gold the following month.<ref name=":1" />

Blondie's next single, the Grammy-nominated "Call Me", was the result of Debbie Harry's collaboration with Italian songwriter and producer Giorgio Moroder, who had been responsible for many of Donna Summer's biggest hits. The track was recorded as the title theme of the Richard Gere film American Gigolo.<ref name=":1" /> Released in the US in February 1980, "Call Me" spent six consecutive weeks at number one in the US and Canada. Released in the UK in April 1980, it reached number one and became a global hit. The single was also number one on Billboard magazine's 1980 year-end chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the summer of 1980, the band appeared in a bit part in the film Roadie starring Meat Loaf. Blondie performed the Johnny Cash song "Ring of Fire", and the live recording was featured on the film soundtrack and on a later CD reissue of the Eat to the Beat album.<ref name=":1" />

In November 1980, Blondie's fifth studio album and third with Chapman, Autoamerican (UK number three,<ref name=occ/> US number seven, Australia number eight<ref name=kent/>), was released. Autoamerican contained two more US number one hits: the reggae-styled "The Tide Is High", a cover version of a 1967 song written by John Holt of the Paragons,<ref name=":1" /> and the rap-flavored<ref name="PARELES1999"/> "Rapture", which was the first song featuring rapping to reach number one in the US.<ref name="Taylor"/> In the song, Harry mentions the hip hop and graffiti artist Fab Five Freddy who also appears in the video for the song. Autoamerican featured a far wider stylistic range than previous Blondie albums, including the avant-garde instrumental "Europa", the acoustic jazz of "Faces", and "Follow Me" (from the Broadway show "Camelot"). The album went platinum in both the US and the UK.Template:Citation needed

Blondie took a break for most of 1981. Debbie Harry appeared on Saturday Night Live in February 1981 as both the guest host-actor and as a singer, with Stein and Burke backing her during musical performances. Harry and Destri both released solo albums. Stein worked on Harry's album KooKoo (UK number six, US number twenty-eight) produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.<ref name=":1" /> He also joined Burke on Destri's album Heart on a Wall.<ref>Template:Cite web The back cover credits of Jimmy Destri's 1981 LP lists "Drums: Clem Burke".</ref> Burke also played drums on the Eurythmics' debut album In The Garden. Harry, Stein and Destri also worked together on music for the 1981 John Waters film Polyester. In October 1981, Chrysalis Records released The Best of Blondie (UK number four,<ref name="occ" /> US number thirty, Australia number one<ref name="kent" />), the group's first greatest hits compilation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Blondie Chris Stein.jpg

Debbie Harry and Chris Stein

1982: The Hunter and breakup

File:Clem Burke.jpg

Clem Burke

The band reconvened in December 1981 to record a new album, The Hunter, released in May 1982 (UK number nine,<ref name="occ" /> US number thirty-three, Australia number fifteen<ref name="kent" />). Infante was initially not included in the new album due to friction with other group members, but began legal proceedings and was later reinstated after an out-of-court settlement.<ref name=":1" /> In contrast to their earlier commercial and critical successes, The Hunter was poorly received. The album had two moderate hit singles: "Island of Lost Souls" (UK number 11,<ref name="occ" /> US number 37, Australia number 13<ref name="kent" />) and "War Child" (UK number 39<ref name="occ">Template:Cite web</ref>).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album also included "For Your Eyes Only", a track the band had been commissioned to write and record for the 1981 James Bond film of the same name,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was rejected by the film's producers who ultimately chose another song with the same title recorded by Sheena Easton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 1982, Harry contributed backing vocals to the Gun Club's second album, Miami, being credited as "D.H. Lawrence Jr". Stein produced the record, and is credited as "bongos" and "cover photos/design". The Gun Club's singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce was a fan, emulating Harry's hairstyle and founding the West Coast Blondie Fan Club, before becoming friends with the band in New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

For the brief North American tour (July to August 1982) to promote the Hunter album, guitarist Infante was replaced with session musician Eddie Martinez.<ref name="ReferenceA">End credits of Blondie Live it Toronto video</ref> Also added to the live lineup were second keyboardist Abel Domingues and a three-man horn section comprising Douglas Harris, Joseph Kohanski, and Arthur Pugh.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> A UK and European tour was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.<ref name=":1" />

In November 1982, the band publicly announced that they had disbanded.<ref>Goddard, Peter (November 12, 1982). "Blondie splits". Toronto Star, page D8.</ref> In 1983, Stein was diagnosed with the life-threatening illness pemphigus, and Harry cared for him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Harry embarked on solo career in the mid-1980s, including two singles—the 1983 track "Rush Rush" from the film Scarface, and the 1985 track "Feel The Spin"—released while she continued to feature in films. Harry released the album Rockbird in 1986, with active participation from Stein. The album was a moderate success in the UK where it reached gold certification and gave her a UK top 10 hit with "French Kissin'". Meanwhile, Burke became a much-in-demand session drummer, playing and touring with Eurythmics for their 1986 album Revenge, and Destri maintained an active career as a producer and session musician.<ref name=":1" />

A remix album entitled Once More into the Bleach was released in 1988, and featured remixes of classic Blondie tracks and material from Harry's solo career, including "Denis".<ref name=":1" /> Harry continued releasing solo albums, Def, Dumb and Blonde (1989) and Debravation (1993), while continuing to tour. Further collections follow with The Complete Picture - The Very Best of Deborah Harry and Blondie reaching number three in UK charts in 1991.<ref name=":1" /> In 1993, a rarities album Blond and Beyond appeared while The Platinum Collection was released a year later in the US. A second remix album Beautiful: The Remix Album was released in 1995 and a live album Picture This Live followed in 1997.<ref name=":1" />

1997–2007: Re-formation, No Exit and The Curse of Blondie

File:Blondie (Roskilde Festival 1999) (3668215038).jpg

Blondie at Roskilde Festival 1999

During the 1990s, Blondie's past work began to be recognized again by a new generation of fans and artists including Garbage and No Doubt.<ref name=undercover/><ref name = prnewswire>"Blondie Announces Release of Greatest Hits – Sound & Vision, Featuring Brand New Mash-Up With The Doors". PRNewsWire.com. Press Release. Retrieved September 7, 2006.</ref> Chrysalis/EMI Records also released several compilations and collections of remixed versions of some of their biggest hits.

Harry continued her moderately successful solo career after the band broke up, releasing albums in 1989 and 1993 which helped keep the band in the public eye. In 1990, she reunited with Stein and Burke for a summer tour of mid-sized venues as part of an "Escape from New York" package with Jerry Harrison, the Tom Tom Club and the Ramones.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1996, Stein and Harry began the process of reuniting Blondie and contacted original members Burke, Destri, and Valentine. Valentine had by this time moved to London and become a full-time writer under his real name, Gary Lachman—his New York Rocker: My Life in the Blank Generation (2002) is a memoir of his years with the band.<ref>Template:Cite book This fact is stated on the back cover of the book, which is his second published work.</ref> Reportedly, long-time bassist Nigel Harrison (Valentine's eventual replacement in the late 1970s) was considered to fill the role for the reunion and even contributed to some new demos with the group, but ultimately he and fellow former member Frank Infante did not participate in the reunion, with the two unsuccessfully suing to prevent the reunion under the name Blondie.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1997, the original five-piece band re-formed—including Valentine on bass—and did three live performances, all at outdoor festivals sponsored by local radio stations. Their first reunion performance occurred on May 31, 1997, when they played the HFStival at R.F.K. Stadium in Washington, DC.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An international tour followed in late 1998 and early 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During this period, and without Valentine, they released a cover of Iggy Pop's song "Ordinary Bummer" on the tribute album We Will Fall: The Iggy Pop Tribute (1997) under the pseudonym "Adolph's Dog".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A new album, No Exit (UK number three,<ref name=occ/> US number eighteen), was released in February 1999. The band was now officially a four-piece, consisting of core original members Harry, Stein, Burke and Destri. By this point, Valentine had left the group and did not play on the album or contribute to the writing of any songs—two songs on the album co-authored by "Valentine" were in fact co-authored by Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's, no relation to Gary Valentine. Session musicians Leigh Foxx (bass) and Paul Carbonara (guitar) played on this and subsequent Blondie releases.<ref>Foxx had been in Harry's backing band as early as her January 17, 1987, musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, later touring with her on the 1990 "Escape from New York" tour before both became members of the re-formed band's formal lineup in 1997.Template:Citation needed</ref>

No Exit reached number three on the UK charts<ref name=occ/> and the first single "Maria", which Destri had written thinking about his high school days,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> became Blondie's sixth UK number one single<ref name=occ/> 20 years after their first chart-topper "Heart of Glass". This gave the band the distinction of being one of only two American acts to reach number one in the UK singles charts in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s (the other being Michael Jackson who had number one hits with the Jacksons and solo in the same decades).Template:Citation needed

The re-formed band released the follow-up album The Curse of Blondie (UK number 36,<ref name=occ/> US number 160) in October 2003. Curse proved to be Blondie's lowest-charting album since their debut in 1976, although the single "Good Boys" managed to reach number 12 in the UK charts.<ref name=occ/>

In 2004, Jimmy Destri left the group in order to deal with drug addiction, leaving Harry, Stein and Burke as the only members of the original line-up still with the band. Though Destri's stint in rehab was successful, he was not invited back into the band.<ref>"Jimmy Destri". Blondie.net. Retrieved April 2, 2007.</ref> He intended to work on their 2011 album Panic Of Girls, but did not contribute as either a songwriter or a musician on the finished product.<ref>Graff, Gary (August 17, 2010). "Blondie to Spread 'Panic' with First Album in 7 Years". Billboard.</ref>

In 2005, a new CD/DVD hits package titled Greatest Hits: Sight + Sound was released, peaking at number 48 in the UK.<ref name=occ/>

Blondie co-headlined a tour with the New Cars in 2006, releasing a cover of the Roxy Music hit "More than This" in support of the tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2008–2012: Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary Tour and Panic of Girls

File:Blondie at Mountain Winery 2012.jpg

Chris Stein, Debbie Harry, and Tommy Kessler perform at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California in 2012

On June 5, 2008, Blondie commenced a world tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Parallel Lines with a concert at Ram's Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland. The tour covered some Eastern and Midwestern US cities throughout the month of June. In July, the tour took the band overseas to Israel, the UK, Russia, Europe and Scandinavia, wrapping up on August 4, 2008, at Store Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired by attendances for the tour, Burke and Carbonara both told interviewers in 2008 and 2009 that the band was working on another record, which would be their first new album since the release of The Curse of Blondie in 2003. Carbonara described it as "a real Blondie record."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Blondie undertook a North American tour of mid-sized venues with Pat Benatar and the Donnas in the summer of 2009. Following the tour, in October, the band began recording sessions for their ninth studio album with producer Jeff Saltzman in Woodstock, New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After playing with the band for over a decade, both Foxx (bass) and Carbonara (guitar) were elevated to official membership status with Blondie. Keyboard player Matt Katz-Bohen, who had replaced Destri, was also made an official member, making Blondie a six-piece band.

In December 2009, the band released the song "We Three Kings" to coincide with the Christmas holiday. The new album, to be titled Panic of Girls, which was being mixed at the time, was said to be ready to follow in 2010.Template:Citation needed Stein stated that Dutch artist Chris Berens would provide the cover art.<ref>Album cover. Chris Stein's blog. February 23, 2010.</ref> In April 2010, it was announced that guitarist Carbonara had amicably left Blondie to pursue other projects and was replaced by Tommy Kessler (the finished Panic of Girls album credits both Kessler and Carbonara as official members).

In June 2010, Blondie began the first leg of a world tour named "Endangered Species Tour", which covered the UK and Ireland, supported by UK band Little Fish. The set lists featured both classics and new material from the forthcoming Panic of Girls.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a break in July, the tour resumed in August and covered the US and Canada over the course of six weeks. Blondie then took the "Endangered Species Tour" to Australia and New Zealand in November to December 2010, co-headlining with the Pretenders.

It was first revealed that the band's album was going to be released first in Australia through the Australian Sony label in December 2010, but Sony later backed out of the deal, leaving the album still unreleased.Template:Citation needed The album's release date was finally set for mid-2011 without the involvement of a major record label.Template:Citation needed The album was first released in May 2011 as a limited edition "fan pack" in the UK with a 132-page magazine and various collectible items, before being released as a regular CD later in the summer. The lead single "Mother" was released beforehand as a free download.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A music video for the song was released on May 18, 2011. It was directed by Laurent Rejto and features cameos by Kate Pierson from the B-52's, James Lorinz (Frankenhooker), Johnny Dynell, Chi Chi Valenti, the Dazzle Dancers, Rob Roth, Barbara Sicuranza, Larry Fessenden, Alan Midgette (Andy Warhol's double), The Five Points Band, Guy Furrow, Kitty Boots, and Hattie Hathaway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A second single from the album, "What I Heard", was available as a digital release in July 2011.Template:Citation needed

On August 20, 2011, Blondie performed a live set for "Guitar Center Sessions" on DirecTV. The episode included an interview with program host Nic Harcourt.<ref>Guitar Center Sessions with host Nic Harcourt Retrieved October 10, 2013.</ref> The band continued to tour regularly into 2012. A concert in New York City was streamed live on YouTube on October 11, 2012. The same week, the band listed three previously unreleased songs recorded during the Panic of Girls sessions ("Bride of Infinity", "Rock On", and "Dead Air") on Amazon.com which were made available for free download in the US, and in the UK via the band's official website. Another track, "Practice Makes Perfect", was also made available as a free download in November 2012.

2013–present: Ghosts of Download and Pollinator

On March 20, 2013, Harry and Stein were interviewed on the radio show WNYC Soundcheck in which they confirmed they were working on a new Blondie album and previewed a new song entitled "Make a Way".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June and July 2013, the band held a "Blast Off Tour" of Europe.Template:Citation needed The US "No Principals Tour" followed in September and October 2013.<ref name=no_principals/> The first single from the album, "A Rose by Any Name", was released digitally in Europe on June 24, 2013. A second single, "Sugar on the Side", was released digitally in the US in December 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The album Ghosts of Download was released in May 2014 as part of a two-disc package titled Blondie 4(0) Ever to coincide with the band's 40th anniversary. The package also includes Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux, a compilation of re-recordings of Blondie's past singles. The band's official worldwide 40th anniversary tour began in February 2014.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

File:BlondieRoundhouse030517-20 (34059021080).jpg

Blondie in 2017

In the summer of 2015, the band announced they would be working on a new album produced by John Congleton.Template:Citation needed Other collaborators are Johnny Marr, Sia, Charli XCX and Dave Stewart.Template:Citation needed Blondie recorded a concert for PBS's Soundstage to be aired some time in 2016 and included two new tracks, "My Monster" and "Gravity".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2015, Blondie members Harry and Stein made a guest appearance alongside the Gregory Brothers in an episode of the YouTube series Songify the News, where they collaborated again to parody the 2016 US presidential election debates.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In January 2017, it was announced that the band would support Phil Collins at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 25, 2017, as part of his Not Dead Yet tour. The band also toured Australia and New Zealand on a co-headlining tour with Cyndi Lauper.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the March 2017 issue of Mojo magazine, the band announced that their eleventh studio album, Pollinator, would be released on May 5, 2017. The album was recorded at The Magic Shop in SoHo, New York City, and featured songs written by the likes of TV on the Radio's David Sitek, Johnny Marr, Sia, Charli XCX, and Dev Hynes.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Pollinator spawned hit singles "Fun" and "Long Time" and embarked Blondie on an extensive promotional tour in North America, South America and Europe. The album peaked at number four in the UK and is Blondie's most successful studio album since No Exit.Template:Citation needed

On December 21, 2019, Blondie announced through their social media that they would release an EP and mini-documentary entitled Vivir en La Habana. It was recorded during the band's residency in Havana, Cuba, in March 2019, and directed by Rob Roth and was shown at several film festivals around the globe. The EP is not entirely a "live" recording as Stein, who was not present at the Havana concerts, added guitar parts in the studio to enhance the live tracks.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> In October 2020, Harry and Stein appeared in Schmoyoho's parody of the 2020 US presidential debates between vice presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Mike Pence in a song titled "One Heartbeat Away", where they played the role of moderators.

On October 20, 2020, Blondie announced that they would be embarking on a ten-date arena tour of the UK in November 2021 with Garbage as the opening act.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour was postponed until April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnny Marr, formerly of the Smiths, replaced Garbage on the tour. Additional dates were subsequently added in the US. In April 2022, prior to the launch of the UK/US tour, it was announced that Stein would be unable to tour with the group due to heart issues. "I've been dealing with a dumbass condition called Atrial Fibrillation or AFib which is irregular heartbeats and combined with the meds I take for it I'm too fatigued to deal", Stein said.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced by Andee Blacksugar. Bassist Foxx, too, was absent due to a back injury. Former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock filled in for Foxx.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Matlock also recorded with the band for the forthcoming Blondie album.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Blondie performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In a June 2024 interview for BBC Radio 6 Music, Harry and Stein confirmed that Blondie's upcoming album will be released in Spring 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was followed up on November 6, 2024 by images posted onto Stein's and Blondie's official social media, showing Harry in the recording studio, captioned 'Whatever. Blondie album next year. Alea iacta est'.<ref>Template:Cite instagram</ref>

Clem Burke died of cancer on April 6, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Style and legacy

By 1982, the year the band initially broke up, Blondie had released six studio albums, each exhibiting a stylistic progression from the last. The band is known not only for the striking stage persona and vocal performances of Harry, but reaching from their punk roots to embrace new wave,<ref name="GRUNDY2011"></ref> power pop<ref name = Billboard></ref> and dance-rock,<ref name = Billboard>Template:Cite magazine</ref> with elements of disco,<ref name="GRUNDY2011">Grundy, Gareth, "Blondie record Parallel Lines", The Guardian (UK), Friday June 10, 2011. "June 1978: Number 22 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of pop music"</ref><ref name="PARELES1999">Pareles, Jon, "POP REVIEW; No Debutante: Blondie Returns to Its Roots", The New York Times, February 25, 1999.</ref> pop,<ref name="GRUNDY2011"/><ref name="PARELES1999"/><ref name="Parallel Lines">Ruhlmann, William. "Parallel Lines – Blondie". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2011.</ref> rap,<ref name="PARELES1999"/><ref>Ruhlmann, William. "Autoamerican – Blondie". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2011.</ref> and reggae.<ref name="PARELES1999"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The New York TimesTemplate:'s Ann Powers stated the modernised girl-group style Blondie perfected became a blueprint for other female-fronted bands.<ref name="NTY">Template:Cite news</ref> With over 40 million records sold, they became punk era's best-selling group.<ref name="NTY"/>

In March 2006, Blondie, following an introductory speech by Shirley Manson of Garbage,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Seven members (Harry, Stein, Burke, Destri, Infante, Nigel Harrison, and Valentine) were invited to the ceremony, which led to an on-stage spat between the extant group and their former bandmate Infante, who asked during the live broadcast of the ceremony that he and Nigel Harrison be allowed to perform with the group, a request refused by Harry who stated that the band had already rehearsed their performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 22, 2006, Blondie was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame at Guitar Center on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard. New inductees are voted on by previous Rock Walk inductees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Members

Current members

• Debbie Harry – lead vocals (1974–1982, 1997–present)
• Chris Stein – guitar, bass (1974–1982, 1997–present; not touring since 2019)
• Leigh Foxx – bass (2009–present; touring: 1997–2009; not touring since 2022)
• Matt Katz-Bohen – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar (2009–present; touring: 2004–2009)
• Tommy Kessler – guitar (2010–present)

Current touring members

• Andee Blacksugar – guitar, backing vocals (2021–present)
• Glen Matlock – bass (2022–present)

Former members

• Fred Smith – bass (1974–1975)
• Billy O'Connor – drums (1974–1975; died 2015)
• Ivan Kral – guitar (1974; died 2020)
• Clem Burke – drums, percussion (1975–1982, 1997–2025, his death)
• Gary Valentine – bass, guitar (1975–1977, 1997)
• Jimmy Destri – keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1982, 1997–2004)
• Frank Infante – guitar, backing vocals (1977–1982), bass (1977–1978)
• Nigel Harrison – bass (1978–1982, 1997)
• Paul Carbonara – guitar, backing vocals (2009–2010; touring: 1997–2009)

Former touring members

• Kevin Patrick – keyboards, backing vocals (2003–2007)
• Jimi K Bones – guitar (2003)

Timeline

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 id:LVocals    value:red     legend:Lead_vocals
 id:BVocals    value:pink    legend:Backing_vocals
 id:Guitar     value:green   legend:Guitar
 id:Keyboard   value:purple  legend:Keyboards
 id:Bass       value:blue    legend:Bass
 id:Drums      value:orange  legend:Drums,_percussion
 id:tour       value:yellow legend:Touring_member
 id:Studio     value:black   legend:Studio_album

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 at:06/05/1982 color:Studio layer:back
 at:02/23/1999 color:Studio layer:back
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 at:05/05/2017 color:Studio layer:back

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 bar:Harry      text:"Debbie Harry"
 bar:Stein      text:"Chris Stein"
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 bar:Andee      from:06/01/2021 till:end        color:tour
 bar:Smith      from:01/01/1974 till:04/07/1975 color:Bass
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 bar:Valentine  from:05/01/1997 till:06/06/1997 color:Bass
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 bar:Foxx       from:09/06/1997 till:04/01/2022 color:Bass
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 bar:Matlock    from:04/01/2022 till:end        color:Bass    width:3
 bar:Matlock    from:04/01/2022 till:end        color:tour  
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 bar:Patrick    from:08/01/2003 till:07/01/2007 color:Keyboard
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 bar:Katz-Bohen from:04/01/2004 till:end        color:Keyboard
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 bar:O'Connor   from:01/01/1974 till:04/07/1975 color:Drums
 bar:Burke      from:04/07/1975 till:11/01/1982 color:Drums
 bar:Burke      from:05/01/1997 till:04/06/2025 color:Drums

</timeline>

Discography

Studio albums Template:Div col

• Blondie (1976)
• Plastic Letters (1978)
• Parallel Lines (1978)
• Eat to the Beat (1979)
• Autoamerican (1980)
• The Hunter (1982)
• No Exit (1999)
• The Curse of Blondie (2003)
• Panic of Girls (2011)
• Ghosts of Download (2014)
• Pollinator (2017)

Tours

Headlining (main tours)

• Plastic Letters Tour (1978)
• Parallel Lines Tour (1979–1980)
• Tracks Across America Tour (1982)
• No Exit Tour (1998–1999)
• Camp Funtime Summer Tour (2002)
• Phasm 8 Tour (2003–2005)
• Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary Tour (2008)
• Endangered Species Tour (2010)
• Panic of Girls Tour (2011)
• Blast Off/No Principals Tour (2013)
• Pollinator Tour (2017–2019)
• Against the Odds Tour (2022)

Co-headlining

• Road Rage Tour with The New Cars (2006)
• Call Me Invincible Tour with Pat Benatar (2009)
• Endangered Species Tour with The Pretenders and Cheap Trick (2010)
• Whip It To Shreds Tour with Devo (2012)
• No Principals Tour with X (2013)
• Rage and Rapture Tour with Garbage (2017)
• Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie Co-Headlining 2019 Tour with Elvis Costello & The Imposters (2019)
• Pandemonium 2024 with Alice Cooper (2024)

Awards and nominations

• 1980Template:Spaced ndashJuno Award for Best Selling Single ("Heart of Glass") (Won)
• 1981Template:Spaced ndashGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ("Call Me") (Nominated)
• 1980Template:Spaced ndashJuno Award for International Single of the Year ("The Tide Is High") (Nominated)
• 1982Template:Spaced ndashGrammy Award for Video of the Year ("Eat To The Beat") (Nominated)
• 1998Template:Spaced ndashQ Music Award for Q Inspiration Award (Won)
• 2006Template:Spaced ndashRock and Roll Hall of Fame for Inductees (Won)
• 2014Template:Spaced ndashNME Award for NME Godlike Genius Award (Won)
• 2016Template:Spaced ndashQ Music Award for Q Inspiration Award (Won)
• 2016Template:Spaced ndashGrammy Hall of Fame for "Heart of Glass" (Inducted)
• 2022Template:Spaced ndashBBC Longshots Audience Award for Blondie: Vivir en la Habana (Won)
• 2023Template:Spaced ndashGrammy Award for Best Historical Album for Against the Odds: 1974–1982 (Nominated)
• 2023 – Songwriters Hall of Fame (Nominated)<ref name="2023swhof">Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of best-selling albums
• List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones
• List of million-selling singles in the UK

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Rockhall
• The Complete Blondie Discography
• Blondie at 45cat.com
• Template:MusicBrainz artist
• Blondie discography at Discogs
• Template:Imdb name
• Blondie's New York Template:Webarchive Documentary on Smithsonian Channel
• Illustrated early history of the band