Face It
A Memoir
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Face It
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Narrated by:
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Debbie Harry
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Clem Burke
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Gary Valentine
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Alannah Currie
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Chris Stein
About this listen
Featuring exclusive additional content and guest contributions from Chris Stein and Clem Burke.
‘I was saying things in songs that female singers didn’t really say back then. I wasn’t submissive or begging him to come back, I was kicking his ass, kicking him out, kicking my own ass too. My Blondie character was an inflatable doll but with a dark, provocative, aggressive side. I was playing it up, yet I was very serious.’
BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL AND BORN TO BE PUNK
DEBBIE HARRY is a musician, actor, activist and the iconic face of New York City cool. As the front-woman of Blondie, she and the band forged a new sound that brought together the worlds of rock, punk, disco, reggae and hip-hop to create some of the most beloved pop songs of all time. As a muse, she collaborated with some of the boldest artists of the past four decades. The scope of Debbie Harry’s impact on our culture has been matched only by her reticence to reveal her rich inner life – until now.
In an arresting mix of visceral, soulful storytelling and stunning visuals that includes never-before-seen photographs, bespoke illustrations and fan art installations, Face It upends the standard music memoir while delivering a truly prismatic portrait. With all the grit, grime, and glory recounted in intimate detail, Face It recreates the downtown scene of 1970s New York City, where Blondie played alongside the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie.
Following her path from glorious commercial success to heroin addiction, the near-death of partner Chris Stein, a heart-wrenching bankruptcy, and Blondie’s break-up as a band to her multifaceted acting career in more than thirty films, a stunning solo career and the triumphant return of her band, and her tireless advocacy for the environment and LGBTQ rights, Face It is a cinematic story of a woman who made her own path, and set the standard for a generation of artists who followed in her footsteps – a memoir as dynamic as its subject.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2019 Debbie Harry (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
‘In this whirlwind tour of her life, Harry deploys an irreverent style well suited to her story. Her tales are intermixed with interludes that capture the eclectic and electric passion she has for the creative process. In a narrative that feels simultaneously heartfelt and spontaneous, Harry recounts close encounters with violence and harassment with the same immediacy as the moments that catapulted Blondie to worldwide fame. Readers will find reflection on life with a budding band and an uncensored view of what it took to succeed.’ Kirkus
‘An eye-opening memoir’ The Times
‘The ultimate rock’n’roll memoir’ Sunday Times
What listeners say about Face It
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cheif wiggum
- 08-03-20
Atomic
Being a life time Blondie fan, it was great to hear Debbie actually read her story and what a story, from childhood to the present day. It throws you right back in the 70's the feel of New York before the sanitised version it is now. That being said there is nothing wrong with the way it is now as you will find out if you listen. Dare i say alot safer. It filled alot of gaps in for me the time before getting together and the times of the band splitting up. Give it a listen you won't be disappointed.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- DanWDan
- 12-06-20
One Way or Another
A Blondie story.
interesting and mostly engaging. Worth a listen if you're a fan of Blondie/Debbie Harry.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss B
- 29-05-23
Brilliant
I loved this book and the fact that it’s read by Debbie herself is even better. I didn’t find her monotonous as some have said but maybe that’s because I’m used to hearing her in interviews. I thought she emphasised and joked where appropriate. I was totally engaged with it and nice to hear about parts of her life that we haven’t before.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-02-20
More!
Interesting insight into the music scene way back when. The start of Punk, a female fronting an androgynous band.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AJR
- 31-01-22
Astounding
I very much loved this, sad, happy, horrific it has the lot. Well done Deborah. 👍🏻👍🏻
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joanne Thompson
- 25-11-22
Travelled through time
I loved this book soo much being a fan of Blondie since hearing Denis at 14 years old the book took me through the years of listening to Blondie 🤍🖤 I also loved hearing about the beloved David Bowie 🖤
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carlton
- 22-10-22
She sounds a bit bored.
It’s still good though, but not essential. Give it a do, you’ll like it. Worth it if you can get 2 for 1.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 18-12-19
A fantastic insight into the 1st Ladies of Rock.
I once spent a very drunken few hours with Ms Harry and it was an absolute privilege to sit with her drinking Champagne and then Vintage Port, putting the world to rights.
It was the summer she was staying with Alanah Currie in London and it simply just happened. The trouble is we drank a little too much and very little of possibly the most fascinating chat I have ever had remains in my memory.
I remember she was charming, friendly generous of spirt and disarmingly honest, a thing that I admire in anyone.
I never met her again, but often wonder what we talked about.
This book has given me a lovely insight into Debbie's life and times and hearing her tell itbin her own words brings a little of our encounter back to life.
A great biography, honest, witty and true.
Wear your heart on your sleeve and long may you continue to rock.
Andy.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rob
- 01-11-20
Loved her for the music & style but not so much the book
Disjointed and self indulgent and not so full of real memories.
Sad but true :0(
Thumbs.... wtf....
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Olly Buxton
- 01-12-20
Great document, but a little loose in places
Most of us could listen to Debbie Harry reading out the phone directory, which is just as well because that's what it sounds like she is doing in many places. Whether because it's ghost written and she doesn't feel it, or because she's just not a natural dramatiser, she didn't feel wildly engaged with the story.
but it is such an extraordinary story - especially the early years of a broke, broken down New York, that it scarcely matters. Blondie the band and the cultural artefact takes a back seat to New York, this steaming, stinking, bankrupt, rotten, violent place, but which was absolutely the galvanising life force behind all that culture. there's no doubt that that kind of art is simply not possible in a gentrified city of today.
fascinating.
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