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Blondie's Debbie Harry discusses the musical milestones of her life with Matt Everitt. First broadcast in 2011.

From their early days as part of the CBGBs scene in New York in the late 70's - it was obvious Blondie were a new kind of band. They absorbed influences such as Warhol, '50s Americana and '60s girl group pop with the rough edges of their new wave contemporaries. Fronting the band was Debbie Harry - sounding and looking smarter, cooler, more beautiful and charismatic than any other singer in any other band around.

On this week's First Time, Matt Everitt speaks to Debbie about Blondie's early career developing alongside CBGBs bands the Ramones, Talking Heads and Television, the pressures that came with the band's enormous fame (and her place as the focal part of that), the management problems that dogged Blondie's history, her strong views on the role of women in rock and her dislike of being called 'an icon'.

First broadcast in 2011.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 14 Jun 202302:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Blondie

    Hanging On The Telephone

  • Blondie

    Rapture

  • Fats Domino

    Be My Guest

  • The Platters

    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

  • Ramones

    Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

  • Talking Heads

    Love Goes To Building On Fire

  • Blondie

    X Offender

  • Blondie

    Picture This

  • Blondie

    Heart Of Glass

  • Blondie

    I'm Always Touched By Your Prescence Dear

  • Debbie Harry

    French Kissing In The USA

  • Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop - Well Did You Evah

  • Ornette Coleman

    Ramblin

  • Blondie

    Maria

  • Blondie

    Mother

  • Blondie

    Mother

    • Phasm 8.

  • Wreckless Eric

    Reconnez Cherie

    • STIFF RECORDS.

  • The Kinks

    Waterloo Sunset

    • Essential.

  • The Icicle Works

    Love Is A Wonderful Colour

    • ICICLE WORKS.
    • Beggars Banquet.

  • Basement Jaxx

    Bingo Bango

    • XL.

  • porij

    Figure Skating

    • oat gang records.

  • Symarip

    Skinhead Moonstomp

    • Select.

  • The Waterboys

    Fisherman's Blues

    • Ensign.

Credits

ProducerHenry Real
PresenterMatt Everitt

Broadcasts

  • Sun 10 Apr 201112:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Sun 26 Nov 201704:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Sat 14 Sep 201904:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Tue 7 Apr 202001:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 25 Feb 202101:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 4 May 202202:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 14 Sep 202201:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 14 Jun 202302:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music

The first record I ever bought… by Noel Gallagher, Janelle Monae, Florence Welch, Thom Yorke, Elton John and many more

The first record I ever bought… by Noel Gallagher, Janelle Monae, Florence Welch, Thom Yorke, Elton John and many more

A selection of major artists reveal their first musical purchase.