Blondie

The newest inductees into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blondie emerged as the great pop icons of New York's celebrated late '70s new wave punk scene by defying easy categorization. They scored their first major hits with reggae, rock/disco and hip-hop songs. They wrote great rock hooks and brilliant ironic lyrics. They had the hippest clothes and the coolest hair. Debbie went from the pages of Punk magazine to being on the cover of just about every mainstream publication on the newsstands.

The original Blondie was formed in 1974 by art student/guitarist Chris Stein and ex-folkie and ex-Max's Kansas City waitress, vocalist/songwriter Deborah Harry. Drummer Clem Burke and keyboard player Jimmy Destri joined in 1975. The band played the fabled New York downtown circuit of CBGB's, Max's Kansas City and Mothers, amassing a major following before recording their first album Blondie in 1976 for the Private Stock label. It was released in 1977 and was well received as the band toured in support of Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

Blondie's Live By Request CD and DVD came out on Sept. 14, 2004, while the band recently released their Greatest Hits: Sight and Sound CD/DVD in the U.K. to coincide with a British tour in November-December 2005. The package is slated to come out in the U.S. in spring 2006 on Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing. Aside from including the groundbreaking videos made by the group between 1977-1982, the CD/DVD features the bonus track and video of "Rapture Riders," a mash-up of "Rapture" and the Doors' "Riders on the Storm." The group's Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing release, The Best of Blondie, was recently certified double-platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than two million, the first album by the band to achieve that mark. One of the plaques will be auctioned off to raise money to help the legendary CBGB's club to stave off eviction from its downtown location.

With a prestigious nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and an upcoming 30th anniversary to celebrate in 2006, Debbie is rightfully proud of the band: "The guys have gotten really good at what they do. I mean they always were good players and songwriters, but I think now you could say they're accomplished." For once, she says it without a trace of irony.