Reading about his teenage exploits in the city and meeting many celebrities I couldn’t help feeling a pang of jealousy. I am a little younger than Chris Stein, but growing up in the North East of Scotland in a small town on the outskirts of the City of Aberdeen, Scotland, while I did aspire to meet celebrities, it didn’t happen.

A few years ago I read a statement by one of the members of Blondie, I don't remember who it was (which is why he made the statement, I suppose...) but he said that Blondie wasn't just Debbie Harry, there are also four good musicians backing her.

All this is true. I was a DJ for almost three decades and I knew the names of members of bands and played Blondie songs many times, but I didn't know any of the members names of Blondie except for Debbie Harry. So when I was handed this book, written by Chris Stein, my reaction was 'who?' When I saw Debbie Harry's face on the cover and realised that Chris Stein must be a member of Blondie.   

Stein recollects his early life in New York during the 1960s when it was run down and many of the buildings, which had housed light industrial machinery in the 'lofts' and 'cottage industries', were in decline. These buildings were being taken over by people using them as apartments and art, photographic and music studios.

Stein explains his interest in witchcraft and the occult, his photography, his love of art, his film-making and his public service cable television presentations. After his father gifted him a ceremonial knife he started an extensive collection. He is also a cat person.

Stein is very candid recalling his history of drug abuse. Starting in his late teenage years, he became quite ill due to his addiction. He was hospitalised and when he was discharged, was directed to the government program to assist in his recovery and subsidise his income. But soon afterwards, he relapsed and remained 'under the influence' until his late forties.

It is particularly interesting to read about his life in the New York music, art and film scene in the late ‘60s into the early ‘70s. He mentions many names in his biograpahy, most of whom I feel would only be known to New Yorkers, or perhaps some Americans. He goes onto reveal many exciting events surrounding his friends, the New York Dolls, known as well as the genesis of the Ramones, with whom he had a very close relationship, as well as meeting and working with Andy Warhol and his cohorts. 

There are many, sometimes rather long, similes and metaphors in his paragraphs as he frequently jumps from one topic to another quickly. As a reader you get the feeling that it is probably written as one thought triggered another one and then another even if they are unrelated, lest they disappear again. 

He recalls the time when his friend, Eric, introduced him to Debbie, one third of a girl group called the Stilettos. Stein was impressed with Debbie and then he found out that their backing band was transient, so he volunteered his guitar playing services.

They became romantically involved and best friends. They split from the Stilettos with the drummer and bass player, and started putting some gigs together. They played at many of the clubs and bars in and around New York City, including outside the city, backing other bands and other bands backing them. 

Debbie came back from work one day and said she had been walking along the road when a truck driver shouted out through his window "Hey, Blondie" and she thought that would be a good name for the band which at the time was called "Angel and the Snake" after a picture Chris Stein had come across.

One of the many interesting snippets is an account of their 1977 US tour, playing as a backing band for another of Chris' friends, Iggy Pop and, I didn't know this, but David Bowie was playing keyboards in Iggy's band. Wow! 

Blondie went through a few personnel changes with the band in the first four years, and two not-too-successful albums. Then they changed record producer. They were introduced to producer and song-writer, Australian, Mike Chapman. He told them he was going to give them a hit album.

What transpired was "Parallel Lines", one of the greatest albums in Pop music history and one that still scores in the top 200 albums of all time.

Stein continues to map out the success of Blondie and his own life, marrying at the age of 49 and having two daughters. But tragedy was to follow amidst all this success. 

Chris Stein writes in a personal way, with a lot of humour and in great detail, including unrelated incidents he saw first hand. Colouring his reminiscencing with historical facts from 1800s New York makes the narrative even more interesting. 

I recommend this book, even if you are not interested in music. It's a snapshot of life in1950s, 60s,and 70s New York and an account of a man making his way to success.

Review by Ken C.

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