
The Blondie story has been fairly well documented on screen and through various books, including Debbie Harry’s autobiography Face It. Is there any more to say about the new wave hit machine fronted by a singer who bulldozed her way through the misogynistic barriers of the late 1970s, even as her image adorned thousands of teenagers’ bedroom walls? There is, and it’s within the pages of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein’s autobiography, Under A Rock.
Reading the memoir feels like getting on a long-haul flight, finding oneself seated next to Stein, and avidly listening as he tells you all the interesting bits about his life with Blondie and beyond – going off on occasional tangents, sure, but keeping you transfixed. He doesn’t allow himself to be bogged down with intricate recording studio details, but instead shares tales on a more human and personal level throughout.
Stein is a witty, generous and engrossing narrator, with Under A Rock harbouring many shocking, funny and sad moments. Phil Spector, the Ramones, David Lynch, Jean Michel Basquiat and other noteworthy characters cross Blondie’s path; of these, Stein’s meeting with Lynch is hilarious, and nothing involving Phil Spector was ever going to be just tea and cake.
The author and Debbie Harry were a couple for 15 years, great moments of which are recounted in these pages; on the downside, drugs, dodgy management, tax problems and illness have all taken their toll on Stein and/or Blondie at different times. Under A Rock is a must-read for Blondie fans – or anyone wishing to read a music memoir with a human touch.
Under A Rock, Chris Stein (Corsair)
Price: £25. Info: here
words DAVID NOBAKHT