Once I had a love, and it was a gas...

Icon, inspiration, spokeswoman for a generation, Patron Saint, one of the most photogenic, most instantly-recognised stars to emerge from the era known as "New Wave" that followed the Punk explosion, Miss Debbie Harry is eighty years old on Tuesday!

Fuck.

There isn't really a helluva lot more I can say about such a goddess [or the band she fronts, Blondie] that I haven't already sad a gazillion times here on this very blog - other than to reiterate that I have absolutely adored her since my formative teenage years! - so I think a self-indulgent wallow in the myriad hits for which she is best known is in order...

Blondie - Denis

Blondie - I Am Always Touched By Your Presence Dear (The Old Grey Whistle Test)

Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone

Blondie - Sunday Girl

Blondie - Picture This

Blondie - Heart of Glass

Blondie - Atomic

Blondie - Call Me

Blondie - Maria

Facts [as previously featured here]:

• Debbie Harry is naturally a redhead.
• Her birth parents gave her up for adoption when their relationship broke up and her father went back to his wife and family.
• As a child, she fantasised that her real mother was Marilyn Monroe.
• It was while working as a "Playboy Bunny" that Debbie first met Chris Stein, with whom she was to have an enduring relationship, both personal and professional; as co-founders of the band that became Blondie.
• The Ramones landed their first show by opening for Blondie (before they were Blondie) at CBGBs in New York.
• Patti Smith resented Debbie Harry's early success so much she apparently tried to poach several of her Blondie band-members.
• Fashion designer Stephen Sprouse began his career making Debs' stage costumes in the '70s and early 80s; he was her downstairs neighbour at the time.
• She was the first choice for the role of "Pris" in Blade Runner, but the part eventually went to Daryl Hannah.
• Blondie's song for the Bond film for Your Eyes Only was turned down, and the title number went to Sheena Easton.
• Giorgio Moroder originally wanted to give Call Me to Stevie Nicks, but she was unable to record it for contractual reasons.
• Debbie's solo hit French Kissin’ in the USA was written by Chuck Lorre, writer, director and producer of US sitcoms such as Cybill, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
• In 2012 a group of photographers took her picture in New York, believing her to be Lindsay Lohan - she was 66 at the time; Lohan was just 25.

Many, many happy returns, Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble, 1st July 1945)