What do you think?
Rate this book
Chris Stein / Negative: Me, Blondie, and the Advent of Punk
INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards -- 2014 Finalist
On the occasion of Blondie’s fortieth anniversary, Chris Stein shares his iconic and mostly unpublished photographs of Debbie Harry and the cool creatures of the ’70s and ’80s New York rock scene. While a student at the School of Visual Arts, Chris Stein photographed the downtown New York scene of the early ’70s, where he met Deborah Harry and cofounded Blondie. Their blend of punk, dance, and hip-hop spawned a totally new sound, and Stein’s photographs helped establish Harry as an international fashion and music icon. In photos and stories direct from Stein, brilliant writer of hits like "Rapture" and "Heart of Glass," this book provides a fascinating snapshot of the period before and during Blondie’s huge rise, by someone who was part of and who helped to shape the early punk music scene—at CBGB, Andy Warhol’s Factory, and early Bowery. Stars such as David Bowie, the Ramones, Joan Jett, and Iggy Pop were part of Stein’s world, as were fascinating downtown characters like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Hell, Stephen Sprouse, Anya Phillips, Divine, and many others. As captured by one of its greatest artists and instigators, and designed by Shepard Fairey, this book is a must-have celebration of the new-wave and punk scene, whose influence on music and fashion is just as relevant today as it was four decades ago.
On the occasion of Blondie’s fortieth anniversary, Chris Stein shares his iconic and mostly unpublished photographs of Debbie Harry and the cool creatures of the ’70s and ’80s New York rock scene. While a student at the School of Visual Arts, Chris Stein photographed the downtown New York scene of the early ’70s, where he met Deborah Harry and cofounded Blondie. Their blend of punk, dance, and hip-hop spawned a totally new sound, and Stein’s photographs helped establish Harry as an international fashion and music icon. In photos and stories direct from Stein, brilliant writer of hits like "Rapture" and "Heart of Glass," this book provides a fascinating snapshot of the period before and during Blondie’s huge rise, by someone who was part of and who helped to shape the early punk music scene—at CBGB, Andy Warhol’s Factory, and early Bowery. Stars such as David Bowie, the Ramones, Joan Jett, and Iggy Pop were part of Stein’s world, as were fascinating downtown characters like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Hell, Stephen Sprouse, Anya Phillips, Divine, and many others. As captured by one of its greatest artists and instigators, and designed by Shepard Fairey, this book is a must-have celebration of the new-wave and punk scene, whose influence on music and fashion is just as relevant today as it was four decades ago.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 28, 2014
Stein is a surprisingly accomplished photographer. The many shots of Debby Harry are swoon-worthy, but the images of Johnny Thunders, Richard Hell, The Avengers, Runaways, Ramones, Basquiat, and other punk & art world luminaries in their prime are just as indelible. Stein includes lots of text so that it reads as an informal history of 1970s downtown NYC scene and beyond.
April 2, 2020
Fabulous book by the main man in Blondie.
He was in the right place and at the right time to capture amazing photos of the New York Scene in the 70s/80s.
This book has so many different characters, and a little info about each of them, referring to the photo they are in. The photography excellent, and the writing sharp and interesting. Great coffee table book.
He was in the right place and at the right time to capture amazing photos of the New York Scene in the 70s/80s.
This book has so many different characters, and a little info about each of them, referring to the photo they are in. The photography excellent, and the writing sharp and interesting. Great coffee table book.
April 27, 2019
A book for every fan of Blondie, punk, or anything having to do with NYC. The shots of Debbie contained herein are some of the most iconic in which she has ever appeared. Stein even managed to capture a photo of Warhol taking the classic headshot of Debbie at the Factory. The notes and captions are extensive and informative. A must-read for rock fans.
May 22, 2023
What a damned gift it was to us that Chris Stein not only had a camera with him, but that he was such a great photographer. These images capture a magical point in history where art and music and couture and junkies were all caught up in the creative chaos. And there was Chris Stein, sitting in the middle of it all, documenting his friends, collogues, contemporaries before the world tarnished them.
December 27, 2015
Excellent collection of photos focusing on the band Blondie and the new wave. punk, and art movement that centered around NYC (mostly in the 70's and 80's). Chris has a great eye for composition and let's face it - Debbie Harry is one of the most photogenic people ever to grace our planet. Plus, Chris was in the right places at the right times to interact and photograph the likes of Bowie, Iggy, Devo, The Ramones, Andy Warhol, and on and on. And buried in picture captions are anecdotes and stories that add even more depth to the pictures. If that music from that time is still on your playlist (as it is on mine), seek out a copy of this book to page through and take a time travel journey with.
October 4, 2014
The bulk of the content here is Chris Stein's photographs of the NY scene from the '70s into the 2000s (much heavier on the late '70s-mid-'80s). Although I never visited NYC during that period, many of these groups were among those I listened to and read about -- and influenced the local bands that I did get to see, and the subcultures around at the time. Between the excellent photos here and the richly detailed captions, this book captures the period impressively. Unsurprisingly, many of the photos here feature Debbie Harry, but many others are seen as well. A really nice addition to the growing library on the scene.
December 9, 2019
Who knew Blondie’s Chris Stein was such a phenomenal photographer? His volume of voyeuristic candids, backstory notes and remembrances pulls you right into the raw, slightly menacing vortex of New York’s late ‘70s/early ‘80s punk scene. The Ramones, Joan Jett, Tina Weymouth, Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde and zillions of others you know appear again and again (there’s even a shot of 14-year-old Anthony Kiedis), but the behind-the-scenes pictures of a young, luminous, stupidly photogenic Debbie Harry are the book’s raison d’etre. If you’re not a rock & roll buff, you likely won’t care. If you are, this belongs on your shelf, stat.
April 29, 2021
Another fantastic book from Chris Stein. This focuses on the many people that Chris was surrounded by during the 60s up to modern day, and a number of anecdotes to match the photos.
This truly shows the artistic talent that Chris has.
Opposite to Point of View, we are shown the people rather than candid and public photos of the day to day life/lives of New Yorke(r's).
If you're a fan of Blondie, then I highly recommend finding a copy to rest!
This truly shows the artistic talent that Chris has.
Opposite to Point of View, we are shown the people rather than candid and public photos of the day to day life/lives of New Yorke(r's).
If you're a fan of Blondie, then I highly recommend finding a copy to rest!
September 7, 2019
Just so many great pictures and such intimate remembrances. A time capsule of a land of creativity, freedom and expression. Darkness is subtly represented as well but these trailblazers are celebrated. Fans of this period will find much to savor.
October 16, 2020
the concentration of genius, again. it never ceases to amaze me, quite frankly.
beautiful photographs.
beautiful photographs.
December 24, 2020
Wow, such great photographs and another solid complement to Debbie Harry's Face It.
January 28, 2022
The text is much too small.
There is a lot of repetition of anecdotes.
Stein's photos are magnificent, and presented lovingly.
There is a lot of repetition of anecdotes.
Stein's photos are magnificent, and presented lovingly.
June 9, 2024
Amazing photos and stories from the centre of the NYC punk scene. Tres cool.
January 6, 2015
I love NYC in the 1970s. NYC in the 1970s was dirty and gritty and real. You could get knifed to death. Crime was everywhere. People were the most free to be who they wanted to be and as part of as many subcultures as they could stretch thin. Creative types wore many hats. Enter Chris Stein. Who knew that he was also a very talented photographer?
The photos are punk focused, and you get raw shots like the bathroom of CBGB and San Fransico's notorious now defunct punk nightclub Mabuhay Gardens. Some of the shots are magazine shoots and there are other shots of people in the scene like Joey Ramone and Legs McNeil.
Music buffs, Debbie Harry and Blondie buffs and fans of eras gone by def need to check this out.
The photos are punk focused, and you get raw shots like the bathroom of CBGB and San Fransico's notorious now defunct punk nightclub Mabuhay Gardens. Some of the shots are magazine shoots and there are other shots of people in the scene like Joey Ramone and Legs McNeil.
Music buffs, Debbie Harry and Blondie buffs and fans of eras gone by def need to check this out.
May 25, 2014
Enjoyed this collection of pictures and thoughts from the early punk-era of Blondie, would have liked to seen and read more of the post Blondie era and the Debbie solo phase and then reconvening of the band. Maybe a part two is in order. amazingly I got this book (from a very good friend) in Jan and never found the time to read it and then picked it up today and read it cover to cover, a very enjoyable read, thanks Chris!
July 14, 2015
Absolutely loved this book. I picked up a copy at the Blondie exhibit at the Chelsea Hotel space. Stein's photos capture the essence of not only Debbie Harry but of the times in which she came onto the NYC Punk scene. I don't know if NYC will ever have that vibe again, but Chris Stein has managed to archive it for us in case we don't.
January 22, 2015
Really intriguing look at the Punk scene, with AMAZING photos. It's always great to have an inside look at any given movement and the write ups coupled with the photos provide a fascinating window with which to view a music movement!
Want to Read
January 9, 2015
January 30, 2015
Really cool look at the NYC punk/new wave scene from someone inside the scene. Great images and fascinating reminiscences. Uber cool.
April 5, 2015
Awesomeness.
May 2, 2015
beautiful photos
Read
October 10, 2014781.66092 S8191 2014
May 17, 2015
A time and a place we can't seem to escape, continuously pillaged for cool.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews