4 Iconic Collaborations Featuring Blondie’s Debbie Harry in Honor of Her 79th Birthday

Debbie Harry, the legendary lead singer of Blondie, celebrated her 79th birthday on July 1, 2024. Harry has been a central creative force behind Blondie, one of the most influential and innovative bands to emerge from the 1970s punk scene centered around the iconic New York City club CBGB. Blondie’s music, known for its eclectic mix of 1960s girl-group influences, power pop, disco, hip hop, reggae, and later, electronica, has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Beyond her work with Blondie, Harry has also enjoyed a successful solo career and has collaborated with a diverse array of artists over the years. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Blondie in 2006.

Most recently, Harry lent her distinctive vocals to a song by the veteran alternative rock band Dandy Warhols. The track, “I Will Never Stop Loving You,” appears on their 2024 studio album, Rockmaker. In honor of Harry’s birthday, here are four other remarkable collaborations she has done with various artists:

[RELATED: Listen to Blondie Singer Debbie Harry’s Rapturous Vocals on New Single by The Dandy Warhols]

“Go Lil Camaro Go” – The Ramones (1987)

Blondie and the Ramones were two of the most iconic bands from the CBGB scene, and Debbie Harry was good friends with Ramones’ lead singer Joey Ramone. In 1987, Harry made a guest appearance on “Go Lil Camaro Go,” a song from the Ramones’ album Halfway to Sanity. Debbie lent her backing vocals to this overdriven punk-pop tune that celebrates the joys of “cars, girls, sun, [and] fun.” The song was penned by Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone.

“West Coast Smoker” – Fall Out Boy (2008)

Debbie Harry is featured on “West Coast Smoker,” an energetic alt-rock tune from Fall Out Boy’s 2008 album Folie à Deux. She delivers a powerful performance, belting out part of the song’s shouty chorus and then combining her voice with that of Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump.

In a 2008 commentary video posted on NME’s YouTube channel, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz provided some insight into the meaning behind “West Coast Smoker.” He explained, “It’s [a song] that I feel particularly close to. I’ve seen so many friends get to the precipice of something and then not step off, and then they end up falling off. And it’s not very delicate looking.”

“Shadows” – Future Islands (2017)

Debbie Harry’s collaboration with Future Islands on the song “Shadows” is a standout track on their 2017 album The Far Field. The song, a melodic, synth-pop-influenced tune, features Harry alternating lead vocals with Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring. The album was produced by John Congleton, who also produced Blondie’s 2017 album, Pollinator. When Future Islands were looking for a female singer with a strong presence to contribute to “Shadows,” Congleton reached out to Debbie, who enthusiastically agreed to participate.

In an interview with The Skinny, Herring remarked that Harry was the perfect singer for the track. “It really made sense because she’s singing from the perspective of this much greater presence, who’s pulling me out of the darkness,” he explained. “[S]o to have somebody so iconic fill that role was what the song needed. I still can’t really believe it came off.”

“Heart of Glass” – Dolly Parton (2023)

In 2023, country superstar Dolly Parton teamed up with an impressive list of rock-music legends for her first-ever rock album, Rockstar. One of the highlights of this project was her collaboration with Debbie Harry on a cover of Blondie’s New Wave/disco classic “Heart of Glass.” Parton recorded a faithful rendition of the 1979 chart-topper, with Dolly and Debbie trading off singing lead on the verses and blending their voices beautifully on the choruses.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Harry expressed her excitement about the collaboration. “Dolly Parton has always been an idol of mine,” she said. “To be a part of anything she does is [an] absolute honor! Dolly is a smart, beautiful woman with talent enough for a dozen people.”

Blondie’s Upcoming Tour Plans

Blondie currently has four concerts scheduled for 2024. They will be performing on August 21 in Vancouver, Canada; August 23 in Carnation, Washington; August 25 in Troutdale, Oregon; and September 28 at the Evolution Festival in St. Louis. Additionally, the band has select headlining and festival dates lined up in the U.S., the U.K., and Spain. Blondie will also be opening for Sting on June 16 in Plymouth, U.K.; June 18 in Cork, Ireland; and June 19 in Belfast, U.K.

Tickets for Blondie’s shows are available now through various outlets, including StubHub.

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