Once More Into the Bleach!

Starting in high school when I first heard Blondie, I've had a perpetual crush on Debbie Harry and her persona. She's cool, sexy, beautiful, smart as a whip, and has that New York City edge (-- even if she's from Union City, New Jersey -- who cares?) This is not to shortchange the band, which was also cool, dark, playful, punky, New Wavish, poppy, risky, damaged. I acquired all the records, and though most have long since been replaced by CDs over the years, I still have an original extended play vinyl version of Rapture, complete with its provocative, erotic cover.

I fell in love with Debbie Harry's voice as well as looks -- sometimes sweet, sometimes raucous and defiant. In high school, I concurrently loved the Doors and the Rolling Stones, and easily jumped into the punky stuff like the early Talking Heads, the Ramones, Patti Smith, the Jim Carroll Band, Iggy and the Stooges, the Sex Pistols and the Clash. All of them tapped into my wild youthful energies, and those of guy friends like Jim Carleton, Evan Farris, and Kenny Randall, too. Blondie was wild with its toy keyboards and B movie lyrics and forays into Euro-sounds. I still chuckle along with "Rip Her to Shreds" and the rest of Blondie (1976), the first album.

The Blondie "movement" peaked in the early 1980s, about the time I was jumping around with the rest of the scene's fans at CBGB's in the Bowery of Manhattan (with my first -- but certainly not last, thank God -- major flame, Suzanne DePalma), where punk began in North America in the 70s, and down at the Beat Exchange in New Orleans during Mardi Gras with my pal Bill Caughlin, giant screens projecting Debbie Harry and the rest of Blondie in sultry, sweaty performances. Pure joy!

From today's perspective, it's fitting to salute the band's sound and fury, which had a lot of crossover appeal that defied musical genres. I'm happy for them that they were recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with the Sex Pistols and other acts. Bravo! I'll have more to write regarding Blondie's albums and impact, and Debbie Harry's solo career and acting roles (she's great as the bitter mother of Ann -- played by Sarah Polly -- in the 2002 flick My Life Without Me, for instance). Meanwhile, Blondie has been touring again in recent years. Their official website can be found at: www.blondie.net Debbie Harry's solo site is here: www.deborah-harry.com

Viva Blondie! And God save CBGB's!