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  • Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein Talk Band’s Legacy

    Blondie got together in the mid-’70s in New York and became regulars at CBGB playing alongside other legendary punk bands, like the Ramones and Talking Heads. The band was spearheaded by vocalist Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, and the two are still very active in the music world. Blondie broke all the rules in the best possible way, blending punk, rock, pop, reggae and even early hip-hop.

    On Friday, Oct. 31, Blondie released a special reissue of their 1999 album, No Exit. So, the band is still releasing music and staying active, but in a new interview with NME, Harry and Stein talk about the band’s uncertain future. They also dish on the band’s incredible legacy.

    Debbie Harry on Blondie Live Shows

    Previously, Harry has said that she wasn’t sure if she would perform with Blondie again, and she reiterated that idea.

    “Well it was Chris, Clem and myself who were the only original members doing live shows,” she said in the interview. “We just lost Clem, and Chris isn’t playing anymore … but maybe that could change.”

    She added, “Essentially, I don’t know. I’ve never liked it when there was just one original member performing and everybody else there is a stand-in. But, she said that he would “be tempted” to tour again if it was under a separate moniker, such as “Blondie Presents.”

    “But, I just don’t feel comfortable marching out on stage without my original guys and calling it Blondie,” she added. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

    Blondie is also set to release a new album, High Noon, in 2026. This could actually mark their final one, too.

    Stein has been dealing with health problems and says he isn’t sure about making more albums but that hopefully “at some point I’ll get back at it.”

    Harry added that she feels the same way about doing new music as she does shows. Maybe “it would be ‘Blondie Presents’ or something like that.  I haven’t really ironed it out yet,” she said.

    Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.

    Anne Erickson

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  • NY Fentanyl Ring Charged in Deaths of Robert De Niro’s Grandson

    Federal prosecutors say five men ran a New York drug network that sold counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl to teens; including Robert De Niro’s grandson and Blondie co-founder Chris Stein’s daughter, killing both within weeks

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 05: Brad Pitt and Robert De Niro attend the Netflix 2020 Golden Globes After Party on January 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

    Credit: Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

    Federal authorities in the Southern District of New York announced the arrest of five men in connection with a deadly counterfeit pill distribution network that resulted in 9 overdoses and claimed the lives of at least two teens. The teens were 19-year-old Leandro De Niro‑Rodriguez, a grandson of actor Robert De Niro, and 19-year-old Akira Stein, daughter of Blondie co-founder Chris Stein in 2023.

    According to the indictment, unsealed in federal court, defendants Grant McIver, Bruce Epperson, Eddie Barreto, John Nicolas and Roy Nicolas operated a network that distributed thousands of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and other illicit drugs to teens and young adults in New York City. The indictment links the group’s counterfeit “Perc 30” and “M-30” pills to at least nine overdoses, including those of the two 19-year-old victims.

    Prosecutors say Leandro De Niro Rodriguez died on July 2, 2023, after ingesting a pill that contained fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine. His death was ruled accidental by the New York City Medical Examiner. 

    Akira Stein died six weeks earlier, on May 30, 2023, after reportedly warning one of the dealers that a batch of pills was “extra strong” just hours prior to her overdose. Despite the warning, the same batch was sold again to Leandro De Niro Rodriguez weeks later, who died from the same mix, per the indictment.

    The arrests follow earlier charges in 2023 against Sofia H. Marks, known in media reports as the “Percocet Princess,” who allegedly supplied pills to Leandro. 

    Federal agents say the pill-trafficking crew shockingly marketed their product on social media platforms, including Snapchat, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok. They used emojis like 💊💙 or code phrases (“blues,” “bars,” “pressies”) to disguise fentanyl laced products. The indictment also outlines a “referral system” where buyers could earn discounts by recruiting other users; including high-school and college-aged customers. Text messages quoted in the filing include lines like “Send 2 more kids my way and your next blues free.” Prosecutors call this “one of the most cynical fentanyl marketing operations” seen in the city.

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    Young buyers were told the pills were “Percocets,” but lab testing later showed they contained deadly quantities of fentanyl and designer tranquilizers such as bromazolam. They specifically targeted teenagers. The “network” reportedly dates back to at least 2019. The investigation remains active with additional suspects and overdose deaths under review.

    Lauren Conlin

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  • ABBA, Blondie, The Notorious B.I.G. among 2024’s additions to National Recording Registry

    ABBA, Blondie, The Notorious B.I.G. among 2024’s additions to National Recording Registry

    ABBA, Biggie, Blondie and Rudolph are entering America’s audio canon. New inductees into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress include ABBA’s 1976 album “Arrival,” The Notorious B.I.G.‘s 1994 album “Ready to Die,” Blondie’s 1978 breakthrough “Parallel Lines” and Gene Autry’s 1949 version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

    Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the 25 new titles in the class of 2024 on Tuesday, saying in a statement that they are “worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”

    “Arrival” was the disco-tinged fourth album from the Swedish supergroup ABBA, and included their hits “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money” and “Fernando.”

    In 2021, CBS News correspondent Seth Doane asked members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus what they thought are the ingredients for a good pop song.

    “I think a pop song should have something that you don’t expect it to have,” Andersson replied. “You recognize it when you hear it.”

    Ulvaeus added, “Simple, yet very innocent.”

    From left, Abba members Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus pose for a picture in 1974 in Stockholm after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song
    From left, ABBA members Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus pose for a picture in 1974 in Stockholm after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Waterloo.”

    Olle Lindeborg/AFP via Getty Images


    Blondie and singer Deborah Harry had their commercial breakthrough with “Parallel Lines,” an album with a famous striped black-and-white cover that featured “Heart of Glass.” It’s joined this year by another new wave classic from the same year, the self-titled debut album by the Cars.

    The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 album “Ready to Die” featuring “Juicy” and “Big Poppa,” the only album released during his life, headlines hip-hop entries that also include “La-Di-Da-Di” — Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s 1985 single.

    Rapper Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, rolls a cigar outside his mother's house in Brooklyn, New York, Jan. 18, 1995.
    Rapper Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, rolls a cigar outside his mother’s house in Brooklyn, New York, Jan. 18, 1995.

    Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images


    Puerto Rican singer Héctor Lavoe’s signature song, 1978’s “El Cantante,” written by Ruben Blades, will enter the registry, along with Mexican singer Juan Gabriel’s 1990 tribute to his mother, “Amor Eterno.”

    Other titles deemed to be among “the defining sounds of the nation’s history and culture” are Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 album “Surrealistic Pillow,” Green Day’s 1994 album “Dookie” and the Chicks’ 1998 “Wide Open Spaces.”

    Lily Tomlin’s 1971 album of sketches “This Is a Recording” is the only comedy and the only non-musical recording on this year’s list.

    Autry, the singing cowboy who was among America’s biggest stars in the mid-20th century, recorded the definitive version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Last year a newer holiday perennial, Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” joined the registry, which now has 650 titles.

    “Rocket ’88′” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, the 1951 single that some argue was the first rock ‘n’ roll song, is also on the list.

    Career-defining singles from several canonical artists are also entering the registry, including “Chances Are,” from Johnny Mathis, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” from Bobby McFerrin,” “The Tennessee Waltz” from Patti Page and “Ain’t No Sunshine” from Bill Withers.

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  • ABBA, Blondie, And The Notorious B.I.G. Enter The National Recording Registry – KXL

    ABBA, Blondie, And The Notorious B.I.G. Enter The National Recording Registry – KXL

    FILE – Notorious B.I.G., who won rap artist and rap single of the year, clutches his awards at the podium during the Billboard Music Awards in New York, on evening, Dec. 6, 1995. Albums from ABBA, Blondie and the Notorious B.I.G. are entering the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. They’re among the 25 titles announced Tuesday, April 16, 2024, that have been selected for preservation as “defining sounds of the nation’s history and culture.” (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — ABBA, Biggie, Blondie and Rudolph are entering America’s audio canon.

    New inductees into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress include ABBA ‘s 1976 album “Arrival,” The Notorious B.I.G. ‘s 1994 album “Ready to Die,” Blondie ‘s 1978 breakthrough “Parallel Lines” and Gene Autry’s 1949 version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

    Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the 25 new titles in the class of 2024 on Tuesday, saying in a statement that they are “worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”

    Puerto Rican singer H袴or Lavoe’s signature song, 1978’s “El Cantante,” written by Ruben Blades, will enter the registry, along with Mexican singer Juan Gabriel ’s tribute to his mother, “Amor Eterno.” The library is enshrining a 1990 recording of the song first released in 1984.

    Other titles deemed to be among “the defining sounds of the nation’s history and culture” are Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 album “Surrealistic Pillow,” Green Day ’s 1994 album “Dookie” and The Chicks ’ 1998 “Wide Open Spaces,” the most recording among the new inductees.

    Lily Tomlin’s 1971 album of sketches “This Is a Recording” is the only comedy and the only non-musical recording on this year’s list.

    Autry, the singing cowboy who was among America’s biggest stars in the mid-20th century, recorded the definitive version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Last year a newer holiday perennial, Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” joined the registry, which now has 650 titles.

    “Arrival” was the disco-tinged fourth album from the Swedish supergroup ABBA, and included their hits “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money” and “Fernando.”

    Blondie and singer Debbie Harry had their commercial breakthrough with “Parallel Lines,” an album with a famous striped black-and-white cover that featured “Heart of Glass.” It’s joined this year by another new wave classic from the same year, the self-titled debut album by the Cars.

    The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 album “Ready to Die” featuring “Juicy” and “Big Poppa,” the only album released during his life, headlines hip-hop entries that also include “La-Di-Da-Di” — Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s 1985 single.

    “Rocket ‘88’” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, the 1951 single that some argue was the first rock ‘n’ roll song, is also on the list.

    Career-defining singles from several canonical artists are also entering the registry, including “Chances Are,” from Johnny Mathis, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” from Bobby McFerrin,” “The Tennessee Waltz” from Patti Page and “Ain’t No Sunshine” from Bill Withers.

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    Grant McHill

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  • Blondie With Mel Ottenberg

    Blondie With Mel Ottenberg

    First isn’t always best, and Blondie found that out the hard way. One of the first CBGB bands, the ragtag group started out as a “No Ambition Just Vibes” project before fate and a terrible recording contract motivated them to rise to the occasion. Amidst haters, low expectations, and an ever-changing band lineup, Blondie wrote some of the most iconic songs of the era, many of which remain classics to this day. Interview Magazine’s editor in chief, Mel Ottenberg, joins us to plot the long and fascinating history of one of America’s most important bands.

    Follow Mel Ottenberg on Instagram @Melzy917

    Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE

    Host: Yasi Salek
    Guest: Mel Ottenberg
    Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
    Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
    Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
    Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino

    Subscribe: Spotify

    Yasi Salek

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