Blondie

USA, 1974–now

New York band of Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, formed in 1974 at CBGB. They combined punk-scene origins with disco on 'Heart of Glass' and early rap on 'Rapture'.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Blondie and 10 artists Blondie influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Blondie?

• The Velvet Underground — The Velvet Underground were part of Blondie's shared downtown aesthetic — the New York art-rock lineage beneath their pop.
• New York Dolls — The New York Dolls' glam-punk was a core touchstone of the CBGB scene Blondie came up in.
• The Shangri-Las — Debbie Harry's 1960s girl-group love shaped Blondie directly — 'X Offender' opens with a Shangri-Las-style spoken intro.

Which artists did Blondie influence?

• Nelly Furtado — From the same list, and the closest match: a singer moving between pop, rap and reggae on one record without apologising for it.
• Madonna — Debbie Harry was Madonna's idol — she took Blondie's new-wave punk attitude and image of the strong, provocative, confident woman as her own blueprint.
• Kim Wilde — Blondie is first among the acts Wilde names - the model for a woman fronting a pop-punk record without softening it.
• Roxette — Blondie's new-wave pop is among the influences Roxette cited for their hook-driven sound.
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs — Blondie's new-wave-meets-punk template is among the acts the Yeah Yeah Yeahs drew on for their arty New York rock.
• Metric — Emily Haines has acknowledged a kinship with Blondie's Debbie Harry, a touchstone for Metric's new-wave cool.
• The Ting Tings — Blondie's punchy new-wave pop is a clear model for the Ting Tings' bright, hooky dance-pop.
• Elastica — Blondie's punchy new-wave pop is a key influence on Elastica's spiky, hook-driven songs.
• Garbage — Among Garbage's stated influences, with Patti Smith, Bowie and Siouxsie.
• Goldfrapp — Part of the glam and disco Goldfrapp melded, with T. Rex, Donna Summer and Roxy Music.