by Debbie Harry
I still have so much more to tell but being such a private person, I might not tell everything. At first, it was against my better judgment to do a memoir/autobiography, but it seems appropriate at this time in my life to get it over with and remember. My natural survivor’s mentality drives me forward for more and newer experiences and tales to tell, and let’s FACE IT, as I’ve learned in doing shows, it’s always best to leave the audience wanting more . . .
Thank you and goodnight. Argentina, 2018.
Rob Roth
Havana, Cuba, 2019.
Nick Wiesner
Photo and Art Credits
A special thank-you to the following photographers for their contributions:
Robert Mapplethorpe (Deborah Harry, 1978 © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission.)
Mick Rock
Brian Aris
Chris Stein
And the fans, who have lovingly sent their own artwork to the author over the years. Some of that artwork is included herein.
Acknowledgments
There are many more thank-yous and acknowledgments I could include, but I have to start my list with my friend and co-conspirator Chris Stein, without whom Blondie would not exist.
Next, to all the musicians who have played with us, past and present, including Clem Burke, who stuck with it through everything. The present-day lineup of the band includes Tommy Kessler, Matt Katz-Bohen and Leigh Foxx—so thank you to all three.
It takes a lot of people to make a band happen, like managers, agents, promoters, record labels, publicists and merchandisers such as Cathy Cleghorn. Thank you, Allen Kovac, for helping us put the pieces back together so Blondie could get back into business in the midnineties. Without Tommy Manzi’s’ energy and attention to detail we might not have made it this far.
From the past I’d like to add Shep Gordon for his brief encounter and Gary Kurfirst and Stanley Arkin for keeping me going through the end of the eighties and early nineties. Our early publicists Carol Ross, Beth Landsman and Harriet Vidal, who all fought for us, as did Press Here Productions’ Linda Carbone and Sarah Usher.
Carrie Thornton, Andrea Molitor, Renata De Oliveira, Ploy Siripant and everyone at Dey Street Books and HarperCollins Publishers worldwide. Gratitude and appreciation to Sylvie Simmons for her thoughtful and insightful interviews . . . and John Du Cane for his support and continued interest. For the wonderful illustration contributions, Jody Morlock and Sean Pryor. Special thanks to Rob Roth for his sensitive creativity.
Thank you to all the photographers I’ve worked with through the years whose visions have made this book possible and also shared with me their affection and talent.
Genuine thanks for the precious time given to me by the fans.
In my song “End of the Run,” there’s a line that mentions “a family of choice, not an accident,” but my little accidental family deserves a loving thank-you for giving me a protected best-intentioned upbringing, a cute little sister, Martha, and some stray dogs, aunts, uncles, cousins and the lovely crazy people I call my friends. Thank you.
Dennis McGuire
Sean Pryor
Dennis McGuire
Sean Pryor
Dennis McGuire
Sean Pryor
About the Author
DEBBIE HARRY with Blondie has sold millions of albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Harry had the pleasure of acting in some of the most interesting independent films of the last twenty years. She is devoted to environmental issues such as clean water and saving pollinators as well as the promotion of the LGBTQ community and human rights.
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
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Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
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www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
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www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
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London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
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New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
1. Love Child
2. Pretty Baby, You Look So Heavenly
3. Click Click House Lights
4. Singing to a Silhouette
5. Born to Be Punk
6. Close Calls Curtain Up
7. Liftoff, Payoff
8. Mother Cabrini and the Electric Firestorm
9. Back Track
10. Blame It on Vogue Peekaboo
11. Wrestling and Parts Unknown
12. The Perfect Taste
13. Routines Evidence of Love
14. Obsession/Compulsion
15. Opposable Thumbs
Photo and Art Credits
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Publisher