Sounds of the 70s with Johnnie Walker

One Way Or Another – Johnnie Meets Blondie

First broadcast: Sun 12th Jun 2011, 15:00 on BBC Radio 2

As they release new album Panic of Girls, vocalist Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein talk to Johnnie about their 37-year career as Blondie.

The most successful crossover group from the New York punk and new wave scene of the 70s, Blondie have come a long way from CBGB’s and Debbie’s days as a playboy bunny, selling over 40 million records.

Forming off the back of punk outfit The Stilettos, Chris and Debbie, by then in a relationship, formed Blondie with Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri and Gary Valentine in 1975 after the cat-calls thrown at Debbie Harry by passing truck drivers. Becoming regulars at hip hangouts Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s and hanging out with the likes of Patti Smith and the Ramones their punk credentials were cemented when debut single ‘Sex Offender’ had to be changed to ‘X-Offender’ to ensure radio airplay.

Debbie and Chris chat to Johnnie about the early days from debut album ‘Blondie’ to the runaway success of ‘Parallel Lines’, angering punk purists and experimenting with reggae and rap. Painted by Andy Warhol and feted for her beauty and her style, how did Harry handle celebrity and how many of the rock and roll myths stand up? Johnnie finds out how Stein and Harry survived illness and a career dip in the 80s to come back with a hit album in the late 90s and issue their ninth studio album in 2011.