Debbie Harry

In the 1980s there were no cooler woman than Debbie Harry. She headlined the band Blondie which she formed with Chris Stein and were quickly part of the punk and new wave scene in America in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The band achieved international success between 1978 and 1981 but it was the release of the third album 'Parallel Lines' that the world caught on with classic hits such as 'Hanging on the telephone' ,'heart of glass', 'sunday girl' and 'one way or another'. The album sold a staggering 20 million copies.

Although ostensibly a new wave band they did manage to fuse elements of punk rock, reggae, pop and disco into there sound and was a band that could quite easily cater for all ears. during the 70s and 80s the band released 6 studio albums with Parallel lines and Eat to the beat reaching number one in the UK album charts. They released 19 singles during this period and earned 5 number ones in the UK singles chart with Heart of glass, Sunday girl, Call me, Atomic and The tide is high. There last number one  was in 1980 but some 19 years later they returned to the top with 'Maria' and this year a cover by One Direction saw 'One way or another' also reach the summit.

The band split in the early 1980s as Debbie Harry cared for partner Chris Stein who had a skin disease which needed full time caring. She then along with those duties embarked on a solo career that would take in singing, song writing and acting.

Her debut album 'Koo koo' was produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers and peaked at number 6 in the UK album charts and the single 'backfired' was released and reached 32 in the singles chart. It was a move away from previous stuff and was a more funk dance orientated album.

It would be 1986 before the next album was released 'rockbird' the album peaked at number 32 and it did give a top 10 single entry 'French kissing in the USA' Although it charted low it was her best selling album in the UK as a solo artist.

1989 saw the release of 'Def, dumb and blonde' and this fared better in the charts peaking at number 12 in the UK charts. It featured the top 20 single ' I want that man' which was written by another 1980s band The Thompson Twins who also produced the song for her.

The solo career perhaps didn't reach the heights of Blondie but she still had a profound effect on getting women into the more edgier side of music and her iconic and sultry looks definitely gave her that cool factor.

Her acting career saw her star in 2 iconic films during the 1980s. She starred in the sci-fi horror Videodrome but perhaps the biggest was the Comedy drama Hairspray which went on to be a huge stage musical both in the USA and the UK.

A women of many talents and so much that at the age of 67 she is embarking on a tour to showcase her work of the last 40 years, a true icon.
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