Metz, Allan, editor and compiler. Blondie, From Punk to the Present: A Pictorial History. 512 pp. Musical Legacy Series, Number 1. Springfield, Missouri: Musical Legacy Publications, an imprint of Barnabas Publishing Services, 2002. Paperback. $35.00.

Blondie, From Punk to the Present: A Pictorial History, is an ambitious book. Collected in this single volume are pieces covering a broad range of interests and obsessions–essays placing punk and new wave in historical context, personal reflections from people who have spent time interviewing and photographing Blondie, and enthusiastic reviews by long-time fans of the band. In addition, the book contains an extensive discography and bibliography and includes information about the band's personnel shifts over the years. Alan Metz has indeed put together quite a hefty volume of just over 500 pages that includes a wide range of pictures of the band, some of which are quite rare. When I first paged through the book, I wondered if the book's length would discourage me from wanting to read all of it. I confess that I did skip a few of the pieces that contained some redundancies about the history of punk and new wave; however, all in all, I found the book to be very thought provoking. Indeed, Metz's vast compilation is quite an accomplishment. The book uniquely captures and analyzes various moments in the history of popular culture (and subcultures) that were key in shaping Blondie's music and image.

While I own some of Blondie's recordings–Blondie, Parallel Lines, and Eat to the Beat are valued recordings in my collection–I wouldn't describe myself as a hardcore fan. One of the book's strengths is that it appeals to a diverse audience. Whether you're interested in the history of popular music or popular culture or are a long-time Blondie fan, you'll find something about this book that appeals to you. The book is a "must have" for any dedicated Blondie fan, who will relish the detail of the discography, as well as other fans' musings (often from fan Web sites) about their favorite band.

Though advertised as "unauthorized" and "unofficial," the book's inclusion (by authors' permission) of several authorities' views on punk subculture, new wave scenes, and Blondie's own mix of interesting personalities lends the book substantial credibility. For example, the book opens with "Prologue: Insomnia...Sleepless in Scotland" by founding member and guitarist Chris Stein, who reflects on Blondie's reemergence and creativity. Rock critic, biographer, and historian Victor Bockris–who has written extensively about the New York punk scene and has been friends with singer and songwriter Deborah Harry for over twenty years–contributes the book's Foreword, two essays ("Visions of the Seventies: The Rise and Fall of a Cultural Challenge" and "Blondie's Punk Roots"), an interview with Harry that contains previously unpublished material ("The Censored High Times Interview with Debbie Harry"), and various other unpublished passages from Harry interviews ("Debtalk"). Additionally, the inclusion of a 2000 interview with legendary photographer Roberta Bailey (Charlotte Robinson's "She Just Takes Pictures: Interview with Roberta Bayley") provides some unique insights into the New York punk scene as it was emerging in the mid-1970s, while also offering an assessment of fans' and critics' unwavering interest in the early punks: "I'm selling my pictures because there's still this continuing, unending interest in the '70s. But why not something new? . . . I don't think there's anything interesting happening. I wish that wasn't true" (133). While many rock music fans may disagree with Bayley's pronouncement, certainly Blondie, From Punk to the Present does play a part in the current nostalgia for the 1970s.

However, unlike the many of the bands alluded to in the book (including the Heartbreakers, the Voidoids, the New York Dolls, and the Sex Pistols), Blondie continues making music, albeit at times sporadically, into the twenty-first century. Metz and his contributors track the band from its beginnings ("Part I: Then"), through the interim in the 1980s between Blondie's initial breakup and reunion in the early 1990s ("Part II: Between Acts"), and on up to the band's current tours ("Part II: Now"). "Part IV: In Retrospect" places Blondie within the larger landscape of popular culture. Most notable of these essays are John Hart's "What Was Blondie's Cultural History, Legacy and Success?" and Barney Hoskyns' "Blondie: The Misfits." The sections on more current projects and retrospective analyses of Blondie save the book from nostalgic cliches and fuel the portrayals of Blondie as a vital force in music history and contemporary music scenes.

The book's photo collection, which is quite impressive, chronicles Blondie from its early days to the present. Blondie, of course, has become an iconic band, associated most readily with the image of the beautiful and very sexy Deborah Harry. Some of the most interesting pictures show Harry in action–hanging out with fans, mingling with celebrities, and, of course, fronting Blondie as well as the Jazz Passengers. Several photographers contribute commentary, explaining the circumstances surrounding the pictures, as well as analyzing their subjects. Photographer Mick Rock, for example, says of Harry: "Debbie Harry was indeed the Marilyn Monroe of punk (as the press liked to dub her). But as 'punk' as she was, she was also 'glam' as a girl could be. And she always had a great sense of humour about all the attention. She never let it inhibit her ability to get down with the boys. She was (and is) a face for ages. And a pretty good singer and songwriter as a bonus" (111). Indeed, the essays, as well as the photos, support Rock's assessment of Harry as funny, friendly, punk, glam, smart, and tough.

Rock fans, as well as pop culture critics, should take note of Blondie, From Punk to the Present: A Pictorial History. Compiler Allan Metz's contribution to pop culture studies is no small achievement. Certainly, I am looking forward to the next installment of the Musical Legacy Series. If future volumes prove to be as engrossing as the series debut, we're all in for quite a ride!