Blondie Hannah-Louise Batt Punk & New Wave

Blondie Blondie is a New York rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein in the 1970's. The band were pioneers of the New Wave scene during the decade, in which social progressive values that began in the 1960s (examples include increasing political awareness, increased public opposition to war and the Feminist movement) continued to grow. Although successful in the UK and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the US until the release of their album Parallel Lines in Over the next three years, the band achieved hit singles and became noted for its mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop, early rap and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a New Wave band. Although successful in the UK and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the US until the release of their album Parallel Lines in Over the next three years, the band achieved hit singles and became noted for its mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop, early rap and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a New Wave band.

The band takes the girl group style of the early and mid-'60s and adds a '70s archness, reconfiguring and recontextualizing simple pop/rock forms of the '50s and '60s in new, ironic, and aggressive ways. Here is the 1976 song X Offender, about a prostitute being attracted to the police officer that had arrested her. (Album: Blondie, 1976) X OffenderX Offender In February 1978, Blondie released their second album, Plastic Letters. British chart success, along with a successful 1978 UK tour, including a gig at London's Roundhouse, made Blondie one of the first American New Wave bands to achieve mainstream success in Britain. The album's first single, Denis, was a cover version of Randy and the Rainbows' 1963 hit. (Album: Plastic Letters, 1978)Denis

September 1978's Parallel Lines became the group's most successful album, selling 20 million copies worldwide. A more traditional punk rock sound, the first single from the album to gain success was the almost aggressive One Way Or Another. One Way Or AnotherOne Way Or Another The second single Heart Of Glass reached number 1 in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany and New Zealand in 1979, and was certified platinum in the UK. A reworking of an earlier song, "Heart Of Glass" was updated with strong elements of disco music. Drummer Clem Burke later said the revamped version was inspired partly by Kraftwerk and by the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive", whose drum beat Burke tried to emulate. Heart Of GlassHeart Of Glass

“Heart Of Glass” showcased Harry's hard-edged persona, and she began to attain a celebrity status that set her apart from the other band members, who were largely ignored by the media. Debbie Harry was hailed as the definitive female rock- and-role model of the '80s, and influenced artists such as Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Courtney Love.

Blondie released a fourth album in October the same year, Eat To The Beat, which was well- recieved by critics as a follow- up to Parallel Lines. In 1980, Debbie Harry's collaboration with the Italian songwriter and producer Giorgio Moroder, produced Call Me, a single not released as part of any album, but instead becoming the title theme for the Richard Gere film American Gigolo. The track brought the genre of euro-disco to an American audience, and spent six weeks at #1 in the States. Call MeCall Me

In November 1980, Blondie's fifth studio album, Autoamerican, was released and contained two more US #1’s: the reggae- styled The Tide Is High, a cover of a song by The Paragons, and Rapture, one of the earliest songs containing elements of rap to reach number one in America. The Tide Is HighRaptureThe Tide Is HighRapture The album was a departure from previous Blondie records, featuring less New Wave and rock in favor of stylistic experiments, including acoustic jazz: "Faces", and from Broadway show "Camelot" came "Follow Me". In 2006 Blondie were induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band are still writing and touring today, but with some changes to the original lineup.

The Ramones Hannah-Louise Batt Punk & New Wave

The Ramones were also a band formed in New York in 1974, and are often cited as the first punk rock band. Despite not achieving much commercial success, the band were hugely influential on the punk movements in both the US and UK. The band toured virtually non-stop for 22 years before disbanding in Eight months later all three founding members- Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone- had died. The band were induced into to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award last year.

The Ramones played before an audience for the first time on March 30, The songs they played were very fast and very short; most clocked in at under two minutes. By the following year the Ramones were recognized as leaders of the new scene that was increasingly being referred to as "punk”. The group's unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, "All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of The New York Dolls], who was copying Mick Jagger.... But Joey was unique, totally unique.“ The group's unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, "All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of The New York Dolls], who was copying Mick Jagger.... But Joey was unique, totally unique.“ The Ramones recorded their debut album, Ramones, in February It was greeted by critics with glowing reviews.