Blondie
Photo: Chris Walter/WireImage
Important Dates In The Life Of Blondie:
On this day in music
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2
Feb
2020
Czech-born American musician, filmmaker, record producer and singer-songwriter Ivan Král died age 71. He played bass with Blondie, Patti Smith and Iggy Pop. His songs have been recorded by such artists as U2, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Simple Minds and John Waite, among others.
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27
Oct
2014
The Last Ship, Sting's musical about shipbuilding in north-east England, opened on Broadway. The former frontman with The Police described watching the opening night as "an out-of-body experience". Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Blondie's Deborah Harry were among the first night audience at the Neil Simon Theatre.
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20
Oct
2014
John Holt, reggae singer and songwriter who first found fame as a member of the Paragons, died aged 67. Holt penned 'The Tide Is High' made famous by Blondie.
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16
Oct
2006
CBGB, the legendary New York punk club credited with discovering Patti Smith and Ramones, closed after a final gig by Smith herself. Blondie and Talking Heads also found fame after performing at the club, which helped launch US punk music. The venue first opened in December 1973, its full name CBGB OMFUG standing for "country, bluegrass, blues and other music for uplifting gormandizers".
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13
Mar
2006
The Sex Pistols refused to attend their own induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Blondie, Herb Alpert and Black Sabbath were all inducted but the Pistols posted a handwritten note on their website, calling the institution 'urine in wine', adding 'We're not your monkeys, we're not coming. You're not paying attention'.
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7
Feb
1999
Blondie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Maria', giving the group their sixth UK No.1 single, 20 years after their first No.1 ‘Heart of Glass.’ At the age of 54, lead singer Debbie Harry became the oldest female to make No.1 in the UK.
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28
Mar
1981
Blondie started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Rapture', the group's fourth US No.1 and the first No. 1 song in the US to feature rap and its lyrics, notable for name-checking hip-hop pioneers Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
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14
Feb
1981
The Funky 4 + 1 became the first hip hop group to appear on a US national television show when they performed on Saturday Night Live playing 'That's The Joint'. The show was hosted by Blondie's Debbie Harry who subsequently asked the group to open up for Blondie on tour but was forbidden to do so by Sugarhill Records' CEO, Sylvia Robinson.
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31
Jan
1981
Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles hart with 'The Tide Is High', the group's third US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.
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15
Nov
1980
Blondie had their fifth UK No.1 single and third No.1 of this year with 'The Tide Is High' a song written by reggae star John Holt, also a No.1 in the US.
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26
Apr
1980
Blondie were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Call Me', the group's fourth UK No.1, featured in the Richard Gere movie 'American Gigolo', the track was also a No.1 in the US where it became the band's biggest selling single. Producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined.
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19
Apr
1980
Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Call Me', featured in the Richard Gere movie 'American Gigolo', the track was also a No.1 in the UK.
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1
Mar
1980
Blondie were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Atomic' the group's third UK No.1 single from their album 'Eat To The Beat'.
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1
Feb
1980
Blondie released 'Call Me', the main theme song of the 1980 film American Gigolo. It peaked at No. 1 for six consecutive weeks, and became the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1980.
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5
Jan
1980
David Bowie appeared on Saturday Night Live Live from New York City performing 'The Man Who Sold the World', 'TVC 15' and 'Boys Keep Swinging' with a specially prepared backing group, including Blondie's Jimmy Destri (keyboards) and Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias (backing vocals).
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26
May
1979
'Sunday Girl' gave Blondie their second UK No.1 hit single. The track was taken from the group's 'Parallel Lines', which went on to become the biggest selling album of 1979.
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28
Apr
1979
Taken from the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines, Blondie's 'Heart Of Glass' was at No.1 on the US chart, the first of their four chart-toppers in the US. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein wrote an early version of 'Heart of Glass', called 'Once I Had a Love', in 1974–75. This original version was inspired by The Hues Corporation's hit disco song 'Rock the Boat'.
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17
Feb
1979
Blondie scored their first UK No.1 album when their third studio album Parallel Lines started a four-week run at the top of the charts. The album featured the singles 'Heart Of Glass', (their first No.1 hit on the American Billboard Hot 100), 'Hanging On The Telephone' and 'Sunday Girl.' Parallel Lines took its name from an unused track written by Harry and became the UK's biggest-selling album of the year.
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3
Feb
1979
Blondie had their first of five UK No.1 singles, with 'Heart Of Glass', taken from the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines. 'Heart of Glass' was originally recorded in 1975 under the name 'Once I Had a Love.'
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30
Oct
1978
Blondie released the single 'Hanging on the Telephone', as the second single from the album Parallel Lines. Written by Jack Lee from US West Coast power pop trio The Nerves. The song gave Blondie their third UK Top 10 hit.
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14
Mar
1978
Blondie were at No.2 on the UK chart with their version of the Randy & the Rainbows song 'Denis', (originally titled "Denise') and taken from the band's second studio album, Plastic Letters (1978). The track was kept off the No.1 position by Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights'.
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8
Dec
1977
Four people were arrested after a riot broke out when Blondie didn't arrive for a gig in Brisbane. Over 1,000 Australian fans had waited over an hour for the group to appear on stage, but the gig was cancelled due to singer Debbie Harry being unwell.
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1
Sep
1977
Blondie featuring former Playboy Bunny Debra Harry, signed their first major record company contract with Chrysalis Records.
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4
May
1977
The Patti Smith Group, David Johansen, Dead Boys, Blondie, Suicide and Richard Hell & The Voidoids all appeared at a Punk Benefit at CBGB's in New York City.
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13
Mar
1977
Iggy Pop kicked off a the North American leg of The Idiot World Tour at Le Plateau Theatre, Montreal, Canada (with David Bowie in the band playing keyboards and backing vocals). Blondie were the opening act on this leg of the tour.
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12
Feb
1977
Blondie, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and the Ramones all appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. The Whisky played an important role in many musical careers. During the 60s The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Love were regulars and The Doors were the house band for a while.
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17
Jun
1976
Blondie released their debut single 'X Offender'. Written by Gary Valentine and Debbie Harry, the title of the song was originally 'Sex Offender', written about an 18-year-old boy being arrested for having sex with his younger girlfriend. Debbie Harry changed the lyrics so that the song was about a prostitute being attracted to the police officer that had arrested her. Private Stock, the band’s label insisted that the single be changed to 'X Offender' because they were nervous about the original title.
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4
Jun
1976
Live recordings were made at the new wave venue GBGB's of performances from Blondie, Mink DeVille, Talking Heads, Laughing Dogs and Tuff Darts. The tracks featured on the album 'Live At CBGB'S New York'.
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12
Oct
1974
Blondie appeared at CBGB’s in New York City, under the name Blondie for the first time. The name is derived from comments made by truck drivers who catcalled "Hey, Blondie" to Debbie Harry as they drove by.
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5
May
1974
Television appeared at CBGB's in New York City, supported by the Stillettoes (later to become Blondie who were playing their first show at CBGB).
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10
Dec
1973
The CBGB Club (Country, BlueGrass, and Blues), opened in the lower eastside of New York City. Founded by Hilly Kristal, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands such as Blondie, Television, Patti Smith and the Ramones.
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Kim Cicalo
July 2, 2020 at 12:28 am
Love love Blondie!!! Best. Band ever!!! Been to 2 of her concerts & got an autograph!! Can’t wait for a concert to come to Austin!!