BLONDIE
From Punk To Present
I have to confess that I've had this book for review for the past two months, and it's only now that I'm getting around to doing a review!
Spectacular laziness on my part? Well, perhaps partly, but mostly because this book is huge! 'Blondie, From Punk To The Present' is 512 pages of pictures and essays, and transcripts, and memories, and thoughts and interviews about Blondie from the late seventies when the band emerged as leaders of the new wave from the ashes of punk, and charts their history all the way to 2002 through the eyes of those who witnessed it.
As a pictorial history goes this is most certainly a book that would have benefitted immeasurably from being in colour, and yet the cheap black and white approach is entirely approriate for the fanzine-styled cut and paste approach the book uses so well, and anyway some of these pictures are probably more stunning in black and white anyway and include images from such photographic luminaries as Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, and Roberta Bailey.
This book is unauthorised and unofficial and to be honest is probably the better for it as it presents a truer and grittier picture than might have been obtained officially, and is without doubt an incredible labour of love from author and uber-fan Allan Metz.
As an historical document this volume is an incredible funny, and occasionally moving trawl through the Blondie archives and brings out the story of the band in great style and detail. If you're a fan of Blondie then this book is absolutely essential, but if you're a fan of contemporary music then you'd be hard pushed to find a better document of thirty years of pop culture.
My favourite part? The section of fan-writings called 'Appreciations' which tell the story best, tales of passion and obsession told with honsty and humour... and I'd bet anything that an official Blondie book wouldn't feature a piece entitled 'I Am Wearing Debbie Harry's Panties'.
Check out the website for the book for more details and how to order.
Spectacular laziness on my part? Well, perhaps partly, but mostly because this book is huge! 'Blondie, From Punk To The Present' is 512 pages of pictures and essays, and transcripts, and memories, and thoughts and interviews about Blondie from the late seventies when the band emerged as leaders of the new wave from the ashes of punk, and charts their history all the way to 2002 through the eyes of those who witnessed it.
As a pictorial history goes this is most certainly a book that would have benefitted immeasurably from being in colour, and yet the cheap black and white approach is entirely approriate for the fanzine-styled cut and paste approach the book uses so well, and anyway some of these pictures are probably more stunning in black and white anyway and include images from such photographic luminaries as Mick Rock, Bob Gruen, and Roberta Bailey.
This book is unauthorised and unofficial and to be honest is probably the better for it as it presents a truer and grittier picture than might have been obtained officially, and is without doubt an incredible labour of love from author and uber-fan Allan Metz.
As an historical document this volume is an incredible funny, and occasionally moving trawl through the Blondie archives and brings out the story of the band in great style and detail. If you're a fan of Blondie then this book is absolutely essential, but if you're a fan of contemporary music then you'd be hard pushed to find a better document of thirty years of pop culture.
My favourite part? The section of fan-writings called 'Appreciations' which tell the story best, tales of passion and obsession told with honsty and humour... and I'd bet anything that an official Blondie book wouldn't feature a piece entitled 'I Am Wearing Debbie Harry's Panties'.
Check out the website for the book for more details and how to order.
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