The Bowery Boys Strike Again

This Lego set featuring the Ramones standing outside CBGB's has to be the best thing ever. The legendary bar (1973-2006) where many of New York's best-known acts got their start has been on my mind a lot lately since the death of Tom Verlaine. The Television singer/songwriter/guitarist may be getting praise heaped on him in death, but not from Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri. (How do you say "meow" in punk?)

For the record, Verlaine certainly wasn't the only one in that scene -- or elsewhere -- who sold Blondie short.

And speaking of music, what do we make of this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees? 

Was tickled to see Joy Division/New Order got a nod, but disappointed to see the B-52s weren't included. 

Song of the Day: 'Bad Dreams' by Jimmy Destri

I'm not expecting to convert anybody with this one: Everybody who would have ever been interested in this album by Blondie's keyboardist has surely tracked it down by now. But I've selected a track from Jimmy Destri's sole solo album, 1981's "Heart on a Wall," because I happened upon a review someone wrote about it ... in 2012. I was so tickled -- other than thinking Blondie toured for "Autoamerican" (if only!) -- Joe Jamnitzky gets everything right that I just had to share! Read HERE.

Related: Blondie's Jimmy Destri Rides Again! (Feb. 29, 2012)

He's right that "Heart on a Wall" was never issued on CD. If you'd like my vinyl transfer MP3s, send me an email.

From HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Kidnapper' (early live take) by Blondie

Great find on the Blondie/Debbie Harry Fan Club Facebook group -- an early live take of "Kidnapper." Not only is it raw and rare, Jimmy Destri, who wrote the song, essentially sings lead with Debbie Harry generously helping out. I've always said two things about my No. 1 group: "Plastic Letters" is my favorite album, and the band just isn't Blondie without Jimmy Destri. Hardcore fans probably won't believe this, but it was only today that I finally put 2 and 2 together and realized "Plastic Letters" is the album of theirs that has the most Destri compositions on it -- a whopping six out of 13, not counting the sublime b-side "Poets Problem." (My guess is band leaders Debbie and Chris Stein had a lot of material ready to go when "Blondie" was recorded, but then were more receptive to other songs when the sophomore release came out a year later. ) 

To be clear, I'm not saying that I think he is necessarily Blondie's best songwriter, although he did write my favorite ("Fan Mail"). But his style has proven to be more distinctive than Harry/Stein, which became painfully clear when the first two comeback albums were released, and nearly every song that sounded like "Blondie" -- rather than Debbie's inferior solo career -- was penned by him. ("Maria," "Nothing Is Real but the Girl" and "Rules for Living" to name a few.) Such a pity that his drug issue -- acquired a million years after his "rock star" heyday -- ended up getting him booted from the band. And an even bigger shame that the others couldn't figure out a way to forgive him, especially given their substance issues in the past.

Wish Destri had performed "Kidnapper" at his solo show at Joe's Pub back in 2012 -- we did get "Accidents Never Happen," however.

Song of the Day: 'Danceway' by Blondie

They're having a poll over on the Blondie / Debbie Harry Facebook Fan Club to name your favorite song off "The Hunter." Longtime Blondie fans knows all about the album's much-maligned reputation -- the band was unraveling when it was recorded, which was done more out of contract obligation than artistic expression. But when I went to give my answer I realized the record -- which admittedly pales in comparison to the group's first five -- is much stronger than even I had given it credit for. Although "Danceway" is a standout -- as songs written by Jimmy Destri often are -- I just as easily could have picked "War Child" or "(Can I) Find the Right Words (to Say)," with "Dragonfly" (which I only began to really appreciate in the past few years), their jilted Bond theme, "For Your Eyes Only," "English Boys" (I know some find it schmaltzy but I adore it) or "The Beast" right behind. 

So Blondie fans: What's YOUR favorite song on "The Hunter"?

Happy Birthday to Jimmy Destri!

The George Harrison of Blondie turns 61 today. The band has never been the same since he was thrown out, reportedly over drug addiction. (Destri got clean and became a drug counselor in response.) The two comeback songs that really sounded like "Blondie songs" -- "Maria" and "Nothing Is Real But the Girl" -- were both penned by Destri, which from me is high praise. Was thrilled that he performed a solo show of sorts at Joe's Pub in 2012 -- read about it HERE -- but was disappointed he wasn't at kid sister Donna's show in September. Here's hoping there's some new music from him soon.

 If you haven't heard his 1981 solo album, you're definitely missing out.

Blondie's Jimmy Destri Rides Again!

This one will probably only appeal to the hardcore Blondie fans who read my site -- we know Anthony's not one of them -- but the band's legendary (former) keyboard player made a triumphant return to the stage Saturday night at Joe's Pub, and I'm so glad I was able to cut out of a late-starting gay wedding I was at to catch his set. The second I heard the opening drum licks to "Bad Dreams" -- the lead track off his underappreciated 1981 solo (and sole) album, "Heart on a Wall" -- I knew I was in for a treat, but then it got even better. From there, he did an assortment of Blondie songs that he penned -- Blondiephiles know that he was the wonderful George Harrison to Debbie and Chris' Lennon-McCartney -- beginning with "Accidents Never Happen" ("They will happen quite a bit tonight, we didn't rehearse!" he joked before the band ate the beat a number of times), "I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No" (one of several songs he had vocal assistance by a cute Lea Michele look- and soundalike named Janet LaBelle), "Fan Mail" (frequently cited as my FAVORITE Blondie song!), and "Atomic," which he gave a shout-out to Nigel Harrison (whose famous bass line makes the song) before starting (both Nigel and Frank Infante were seated near us -- a veritable Discarded Blondie Members Hall of Fame). He played three new songs I've heard via the Web before -- details HERE -- then closed the show with my favorite solo song of his, "My Little World." (More about that in a second.) The packed crowd demanded an encore -- Jimmy's wife Robbie had done a great job getting the word out about the premiere gig of Jimmy Destri and the Sound Grenade -- so back out they came, and after claiming they had nothing else up their sleeves, gave "Call Me" a shot. Janet's microphone didn't want to work, but it was fun hearing Jimmy imitate (in a very thick Italian accent) how Giorgio Moroder approached him back in '80 and asked him if he could make various sounds he had in mind for the "American Gigolo" classic. Afterward I briefly spoke to Mrs. Destri -- she's a fun one, danced throughout the show and even got the crowd up during "Atomic" as her hubby "begged" her to sit down! -- before running into Jimmy on my way back to the bathroom. He was as nice as could be -- no Rock and Roll Hall of Fame attitude here, and he looks damn good for pushing 60 -- posing for a photo and answering all of my fanboy questions. He said he's given up hope of "Heart on a Wall" ever getting a digital release (his wife told me Chrysalis says the tapes were lost, Jimmy says they claim it didn't sell -- so he's focusing on making new music -- yet he sees the LP traded in at record stores everywhere he goes), but more than anything I wanted to know the identity of the small boy singing at the end of "My Little World," someone I calculated would be about 35 now. (Ouch.) Without missing a beat, he explained that it was one of producer Michael Kamen's daughters (oops! not sure which one, Sasha and Zoe are listed online) who was hanging out in the studio and started singing along to the song's "You can follow me" refrain. Moments before, he had dedicated the song to "the great Michael Kamen who died way too young," but I only realized how "big" the "Heart on a Wall" producer was -- and that he had died -- when I got home. It's always been my favorite part of the song -- when Jimmy sweetly says back, "Where you going? Where do you wanna go?" -- it's one of those moments that you couldn't write better. Here's hoping this is just the beginning for Jimmy Destri and the Sound Grenade. With so many other great credits to his name -- "No Imagination," "Kidnapper," Picture This," "11:59," "Slow Motion," "Walk Like Me," "Angels on the Balcony," "Do the Dark, to name a few -- I wouldn't have the nerve to say no to a chance to see them again. (Learn more about the new band HERE.)