Christ Stein/Negative at Somerset House

To celebrate Blondie's 40th anniversary Somerset House has put on an exhibition of Chris Stein's photographs from the 1970s-80s called 'Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie and the Advent of Punk'. Chris along with Debbie Harry formed Blondie all those years ago and helped to change the face of music.

Chris has taken photographs along the way and this exhibition celebrates a series of previously unseen photographs from the mid-70s to early-80s, many, of course, featuring Debbie.  There was a glittering launch to the exhibition when it opened with people like Ray Davies and Marianne Faithfull all showing up but I've only just got round to seeing it.

In part, the exhibition is what you'd expect with snapshots of Debbie here and there, on this tour and that, and with various famous people like David Bowie, Andy Warhol and a lovely one with Joey Ramone. There are also photos of Blondie contemporaries like Richard Hell, David Byrne and Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers (yes, the Thunders who injected Viv Albertine with heroin).

There are also photos of Debbie in strange situations, like being in a posh hotel and not knowing what to do with herself, of Debbie cooking in an evening gown with a flaming pan in her hands and Debbie smoking a joint with Joan Jett.

Some of the best photographs are the least expected. There's a strange photo of the first line-up of what became Blondie with long hair - now, Chris, I can imagine with long hair but Clem Burke? Where is he underneath that mop of long wavy hair? Ah yes, *there* he is… That was a shocker. And a lovely photo of the original Ramones which is even more poignant because they've all gone now (but at least I shook Tommy's hand in the mid-00s in New York).  There was also an atmospheric photo outside Chris's apartment on First & 1st with snow on the ground and part-covering a weather-beaten car. That's the old art student showing through in the photos but it does make for interesting viewing.

There's also a lovely photo of Debbie on one of Blondie's UK tours in which she's reading a copy of The Sun with the headline 'Women are just slaves' and you can see how un- phased she is by that headline from her expression. Being a slave isn't even part of her conceptual universe. It's also good that she's wearing black leather, including black leather gloves to hold the toxic newspaper. That photo says so much about - or at least my perceptions of - Debbie Harry.

The soundtrack accompanying the exhibition is also interesting with lots of Blondie, of course, but also their New York contemporaries. While I was there we were also treated to the war cry of 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!' by X-Ray Spex which was a delightful surprise. There are no pics of Poly or the Spex but at least they're part of the soundtrack to the exhibition.

It's an interesting exhibition and well worth the time if you're near the Strand with an hour to spare. It's free so pop along if you can.

Advent #10 - 'We Three Kings'

You can't have Christmas without a traditional carol or two so imagine my joy when I heard 'We Three Kings' by Blondie. It was a free download in 2009 so I did and then bounced around the room singing along (as you do). Merry Christmas Debbie, Chris and Clem!

Tom Tom Club - 'Downtown Rockers'

Those bouncy people at Tom Tom Club released a new EP/LP a few weeks back called 'Downtown Rockers' and now there's a video. You must watch it since it is black 'n' white fab with some truly antique video clips of people like Debbie Harry and more of your New York '70s favourites. Personally, I just love the way they sing 'rockerz' with a 'z' rather than an 's'.

Chris names the bands from the New York underground scene in the late '60s and '70s while Tina and Victoria sing the chorus of 'Downtown rockerz, I remember you, Downtoen rockers, I will still love you' with the rest of the band with a spikey guitar riff and drums thumping away. He starts with 'The Velvet Underground, The Modern Lovers, The New York Dolls, Patti Smith...' and moves on to The Ramones, Blondie and everyone you could wish for. He even name-checks The Shirts (I still have their single 'Tell Me Your Plans'). The last name is (appropriately) Talking Heads.

Chris is quoted somewhere as saying that this song is their version of the books that everyone seems to be writing these days about the downtown music scene in the '70s. Immortalise their names (if that's needed) in song rather than print and it's lovely to hear some of the names in the list that risk falling by the wayside. A fitting tribute.

I can't think of Tina and Chris without recalling their show at the Great Eastern Hotel years ago when I caught Tina's warm CBGB knickers when she threw them into the crowd (she was wearing others underneath). Earlier in the evening it was lovely to wander round with Chris and Dawn and marvel at the City media kids pretending to be CBGB punks for the evening (and getting it so wrong) and then, out of the blue, there were Tina and Chris walking up to give Dawn a big hug. They're nice people.

Anyway, watch the video, download the album and enjoy!