Chris Stein

Chris Stein

Stein at SXSW in 2014
Background information
Birth name Christopher Stein
Born January 5, 1950
Brooklyn, New York, US
Genres New wave • pop rock • punk rock
Occupation(s) Musician • songwriter • film producer • photographer
Instruments Guitar • bass guitar
Associated acts Blondie • Deborah Harry

Christopher "Chris" Stein (born January 5, 1950) is the co-founder and guitarist of the new wave band, Blondie.[1] He is also a producer and performer for the classic soundtrack of the hip hop film, Wild Style, and writer of the soundtrack for the film Union City.[2] An acclaimed photographer, Stein has taken thousands of images documenting the early New York City punk music scene, the visual allure of Debbie Harry and Blondie, and his collaborations with artistic luminaries including Andy Warhol and H.R. Giger.[3] Stein's photography was published most recently in September 2014 by Rizzoli International in his book, Chris Stein / Negative: Me, Blondie, and the Advent of Punk.[4][5]

In addition to being the sole writer of the Blondie hit song, "Sunday Girl", Stein co-wrote numerous hits with Blondie's lead vocalist, Deborah Harry, including "Heart of Glass", "Picture This", "Dreaming", "Island of Lost Souls", "Rapture", and "Rip Her to Shreds". Stein also ran the Animal Records label between 1982 and 1984.[6]

In 1983, Stein was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin, but he has since regained normal function. Stein had developed a mild form of the disease, and was able to control it with a program of steroids.[7] As of 2014, he was still touring and recording with Blondie.[8]

Personal life

Stein is Jewish (although he is not practising)[9] and was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York.[10] While in Blondie, Stein and Harry maintained a romantic relationship but never married. In 1989, the couple went their separate ways but have continued to work together on a professional basis. Stein was co-host of TV Party, a public-access television cable TV show in New York City, that ran from 1978 to 1982.

In 1999, Stein married the actress Barbara Sicuranza, and they have two daughters.[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Official Website". Blondie. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ Foster, Dave (November 3, 2005). "Union City in February | News | Film @ The Digital Fix". Film.thedigitalfix.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Picture This: Blondie’s Unofficial Photographer". Forward.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chris Stein / Negative: Me, Blondie, and the Advent of Punk". Rizzoli International. September 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Blondie's Chris Stein Shares Stories Behind His Punk Photographs". Rolling Stone. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Chris Stein: Information from". Answers.com. January 5, 1950. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Struck by her presence – Music". www.theage.com.au. February 13, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Official Blondie Gig List". Official Blondie Web Site. September 25, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  9. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/nyregion/13punk.html?_r=0
  10. ↑ "Interview: Chris Stein | The Jewish Chronicle". Thejc.com. June 30, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  11. ↑ ".". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Official Blondie Web Site: Chris Stein". Archive.blondie.net. May 13, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2013.

External links