HALL OF FAME FOCUS: BLONDIE (cont.)
"Autoamerican" was all over the place musically. I never grew to like it until I heard it, years later, in a bar in London.
The songs from "Autoamerican" were created [from] all these different moods in the room. I'll never forget when we delivered the album to the label. They said, "What do we do with this? There are no hits."
As for "The Hunter," well, that was the only album that I recall us all being satisfied with. We felt that we had really made a good record. It was a misunderstood record.
Was it inevitable that the band parted ways after that 1982 album?
Burke: The reality of the split is that we should have taken a break. Furthermore, Chris was very ill. It was a double whammy.
Unfortunately, Jimmy Destri and Debbie made solo records in the early-'80s. I played on Jimmy's record. The solo projects were the beginning of the end. If we had come together on those two records, we would've had a great Blondie record.
That year, funnily enough, I think I worked with everybody in the band separately. We just needed a break in the '80s. Success is a hard thing for people to handle. I know it's a cliché, but we were all relatively young. I was 18 when I met Debbie and Chris.
What is left for Blondie to conquer?
Stein: We are still trying to get into the A-level of rock artists. Regardless of what everybody thinks, Blondie is still not in the same league as Aerosmith. If we can squeeze out one more No. 1 in the U.K., we'll be the only band to have a No. 1 in four consecutive decades. We're currently tied with the Bee Gees.
Harry: I was going to say, "Nasty habits." But I think we've already conquered that. I guess to write new songs -- to write another great hit.
What will Blondie's legacy be?
Burke: The music.
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