Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s and has so far sold over 30 million albums.[1] The band was a pioneer in the early American new wave and punk rock scenes. Their first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although successful in the United Kingdom and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of Parallel Lines in 1978. Over the next three years, the band achieved several hit singles and was noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop and reggae, while retaining a basic style as a new wave band.
In spite of their hits, several factors weakened the group. Deborah Harry achieved a level of celebrity that eclipsed that of other band members. Their album "The Hunter", released in 1982, was poorly received. Core member Chris Stein was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. These factors led to the dissolution of the group in 1982.[2]
As members pursued other projects, Blondie's reputation grew over the following decade and the group reformed in 1997, achieving renewed success and a number one single in the United Kingdom with "Maria" in 1999. The group toured and performed throughout the world over the following years, and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the RockWalk of Fame in 2006.
