As a child of the 1970s and 1980s, the songs of Blondie resonate for me. They were probably one of the first bands that exuded the kind of cool you may have wanted to have. Debbie Harry herself wasn't just beautiful--she was hip, and she was the center of the band surrounded by a bunch of understated guys dressed in black. You can see this when you look at the Parallel Lines cover, which I enviously remember one of my friends owned. One of the so-called understated guys was Chris Stein, former long-time love of Debbie and co-creator of Blondie. Under a Rock is his memoir, detailing remembrances of his youth and his life in Blondie.

The book starts out chronicling Chris's childhood and teen years in New York. His childhood was like many other children born in 1950 in the city, and you're taken on a whirlwind tour of what it meant to grow up at that time. I found it engaging and interesting, partly because Stein is such a great storyteller. There's humor and intelligence in anything he discusses, and his voice rocks the book. He was smart enough to be part of Mensa but was thrown out of his original high school for long hair.

You never get an introductory story of how Chris and Debbie met, but they were such a solid part of each other's lives in every way. They were partners, lovers, and friends. You sense the real love Chris had for Debbie and their mutual interest in culture, art, and music, and taking in stray cats! I always wondered why they drifted apart, especially since she was by his side the whole time when he became deathly ill. Once you hear of all the travails involving drugs, you understand what broke them up as a couple. Despite the break-up, they never really severed ties. They are very much part of each other's lives, and Stein referred to Debbie, his wife Barbara, and two daughters as his immediate family.

One of the amazing things about the book is the cameos and supporting characters. So many seminal luminaries of the punk world, art world, and so much more make significant appearances in the book. I love the line about when he first encountered Patti Smith at a poetry reading that he thought she may have a chance to become a singer. You'll meet up with Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and countless others. The best part is that they're very genuine meetings without the feeling of boasting or bulking up the book. They're just there and part of Stein's life.

The amount of drugs he and other people in his and Debbie's circle would take was staggering. It's a wonder that he's still around to tell the tale, especially when he becomes deathly ill. He's been through it all from riches to rags, but he made it through his addictions, somehow picking himself up and starting again. The one tragic thing that touched Stein's life and really made me sad was the untimely death of his daughter from an overdose. Even with the care he and his wife took to warn their daughters of drugs, it still happened. It definitely gives you pause and proves how it's possible how the genetic component of addiction can take hold.

I really appreciated the honesty of Stein. He says his piece and is deprecating in many instances. He's made mistakes, learned from them, and lived a truly interesting life that makes this book one worth reading. This is not a bitter or cynical man--he sounds hopeful even during his darkest days, and I appreciated all the incredible stories he tells.

Music is a passion, my having spent decades selling it and crowding up endless brain cells with Casey Kasem-like trivia. I am drawn to music bios– eager to get the lowdown on the lives of the artists. All too often, like Charlie Brown trusting Lucy’s football hold, I am left disappointed by the experience. For every exceptional memoir like Keith Richards', there are lackluster ones from artists like Donovan or even the recent Doobie Brothers’ that leave me unimpressed and ready to nod off.

The early sections of "Under a Rock" by Blondie's Chris Stein are very well-written and avoid the pitfall of being mere filler. His observations of the pre-Blondie years are entertaining and relatable, not always the case with celebrity bios, where the desire is to skim along until the career is taking off. Like the recent Ricki Lee Jones biography, Stein’s book conjures up a nostalgic chord when hitting the landmarks of the past.

Debbie Harry is on the cover. She writes the forward. She is beautiful and charismatic and, really, the focal point of the group. This is not a Blondie bio, but rather the story of Chris Stein. As partners they led the group and enjoyed a long-term relationship, but– while her star-quality was continually an issue– her presence does not overshadow Stein's narrative.

Stein's portrayal of New York City life is a major element of the story. There was the pervasive crime scene, including a passage where Debbie was raped at knifepoint during a robbery while Stein was tied up. There is the rise of Punk and New Wave and clubs like CBGB’s. Later there is even Chris’s first-hand account of the 9/11 attack.

The stars and the glitter are all here. There are encounters with Warhol, Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Hendrix, Phil Spector, and Mick Jagger, among others. Blondie’s rise, fall and resurrection in the late 1990’s is all covered. Stein says he never felt the group rose as high as it could have, yet the reverence it inspires and its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would tend to challenge that assessment.

Following the pizzazz of the show biz chapters, we have the completion of the man’s life. Recreational drugs, followed by hardcore addictions and serious medical challenges– including a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris– all took their toll. In the epilogue Stein states, “There’s a tendency to present tales of personal addiction as colorful ‘war stories,’ art produced by pain and being hooked.” He assumed he always presented these experiences to his kids in a “negative light.” Tragically, he lost his nineteen-year-old daughter, Akira, to an accidental overdose.

In 1999, after a seventeen-year layoff, Blondie returned with “No Exit” and a tour that I was lucky enough to catch at a music convention. There was some skepticism as to whether or not they could still bring it. They were awesome. The group is back in the studio and planning an album release in the spring of 2025. While Stein remains a member of the group, he no longer tours due to a heart condition.

"Under a Rock" is an intelligent and clever rock biography that successfully combines glitz, glamour, and name dropping with a compelling narrative. It is an impressive example of the genre.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this as a digital galley from NetGalley.

Will I read any memoir from an aging rocker? YUP.

Will it just be disjointed writing and lots of name dropping? YUP.

Will I read any of 'em anyways? YUP.

I think I read this expecting to read more about Debby Harry's life and I found myself reading more and more to get to those parts but overall it was entertaining and had some good stories within it . Stein definitely took us further into their relationship and addiction and how it interfered in different ways . I enjoyed reading about the collaborations with other bands and how they were at the height of their career and didnt even realize the following they had . Overall I would've like to hear more experiences on how their addiction impacted them with maybe more individual interviews with Debbie but still made a very good read

Blondie are an influential American punk/new wave band that emerged from the NY music scene in the 70s. Chris Stein founded the band with Debbie Harry. This is his story covering his youth up until Summer 2023.

For me, this started a bit slow. His teenage years were long and slow and it didn't really pick up for me until he met Debbie Harry. Then it zooms at breakneck speed. Chris Stein has seen a lot of things, met a lot of people and lived life. He name drops famous friends from the scene without being obnoxious about it. He talks about his drug abuse matter of factly, never glamorizing the lifestyle. He lived in the seedy underbelly of NY always trying to score even while his band was climbing the charts in the US and UK. Fascinating insights into his rock and roll life.

As a longtime fan of Blondie and the vibrant music scene of the 1970s and 80s, I was thrilled to dive into *Under a Rock* by Chris Stein. This memoir exceeded my expectations, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the life of one of punk and new wave’s most influential figures. From the very first page, Stein’s unique voice and storytelling drew me in, making this book an absolute pleasure to read.

What I love most about Under a Rock is its conversational tone. It feels like you’re sitting down with Chris Stein as he shares stories from his life—some humorous, others deeply reflective, but all captivating. The stream-of-consciousness style made the memoir feel incredibly personal, as if Stein was speaking directly to me, recounting the highs and lows of his journey.

I initially picked up this book, hoping to explore Blondie’s rise to fame in-depth. While those stories are certainly present and as fascinating as I’d hoped, what really stood out to me were the insights into Stein’s early life and the gritty, electric atmosphere of New York City in the 1970s. His vivid descriptions of the city, the people, and the artistic scene at the time brought that era to life in a nostalgic and enlightening way.

Stein doesn’t shy away from discussing his challenges, and his honesty adds a layer of depth to the memoir that I found incredibly moving. The way he navigates the complexities of fame, creativity, and personal struggles resonated with me on a profound level. It’s clear that while Blondie was a huge part of his life, Stein’s story is about much more than just the band—it’s about a man finding his way through an ever-changing world.

The foreword by Debbie Harry and the piece by Romy Ashby are wonderful additions that provide even more context and perspective. As a fan, I appreciated the glimpses into their unique relationships and the impact they had on each other’s lives and careers.

*Under a Rock* is a book I’ll be recommending to fellow fans and anyone interested in the cultural history of the late 20th century. It’s not just a memoir about music; it’s a deeply human story about navigating life’s twists and turns. Chris Stein has crafted a book that is both engaging and insightful, and as a fan, I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

I was never the biggest Blondie fan, but I loved the earlier albums. Oddly enough, I found the memoir to be more engaging as it got further along into Chris' life and the bands career. The 70's was mostly stream of concsiousness "I took a lot of drugs, touring was exhausting, blah blah blah" and frankly took a long time to get through. A bit of self-reflection about how silly Rapture was and how it came about would have been interesting, but, alas, there was very little about the actual recordings themselves. Maybe findin love and dialing down on the drugs and finding some stasis with Methadone provided some clarity in the 80's and beyond, or maybe I just got more used to Chris' style, but, like I said, I enjoyed the last third a lot more and the epilogue was a real gut punch. 3.5 stars

There is no structure to Stein’s story. He doesn’t talk about people or places, but rather just commentates on both. Even the Blondie years never has any personal insights.

This is a captivating memoir by Chris Stein, co-founder and guitarist of the iconic band Blondie. The book takes readers on a wild journey through Stein’s life, from his childhood in Brooklyn to the heights of pop success and the pitfalls of fame.
He also shares the story of Blondie’s rise to fame, and their impact on the American new wave music scene. He also brings us into the darker aspects of celebrity life. The substance abuse, and the tragic loss of his daughter to an accidental overdose.
And his lifelong friendship with Debbie Harry.
If you listened or were a fan of Blondie you love reading this

As a huge fan of the band "Blondie," I knew this book would be of interest to me since we learn a lot about the forming and rise of the band but also about the NYC punk and art scene during the 1970"s. It is less about Blondie and more a memoir of Chris Stein's life. The writing is very free-flowing and stream of consciousness but once you get into the rhythm of it, it is very gripping. I felt like I was in conversation (or shall I say a monologue) with a good friend - and since I am friends with many creative types, this is something I am used too. An interesting read about trying to earn a living as a band, dealing with addiction, band rivalries, and settling down. If you read to the end, the epilogue packs a wallop. Worth a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Blondie founding member Chris Stein has published his third book, a memoir “Under a Rock”, telling his story from the streets of Brooklyn to famed legendary clubs like Max’s Kansas City, CBGBs and beyond selling millions of albums. The book gives you an intimate look at growing up in the 1950s with communist parents, attending Woodstock, experiencing the cultural renaissance of New York in the 60s and 70s, meeting Debbie Harry starting a band that would bring punk rock to the charts. The book also delves into the dark years of his then rare medical condition pemphigus vulgaris and drug addiction with vivid details and droll humor. It also highlights the relationship with Harry in the band and after when she took care of him full time. After splitting with Harry and years later reuniting Blondie, earning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and starting a new family are also discussed. Unfortunately he can no longer tour with Blondie but still contributes to recordings and actively posts on social media his photography and remembrances of people like H.R. Giger, William S. Burroughs and many New York City scene goers.

I was interested in reading this book because I am a fan of Blondie and Debbie Harry. I was also interested in the people they would have crossed paths with especially artists. While it provides interesting information about these things, it was bogged down with millions of little details that didn’t interest me whatsoever.I didn’t feel emotional connection except particular notes about the women in his life. I could pick through and find insightful moments. Drugs are pervasive and it is hard not to think how much life would be better without their abuse. I love New York but I guess I am not as nostalgic as I thought or about the music scene with its many pitfalls. Fame is fickle and it does not equal joy. Falling into one thing and then another is different than what I could handle but there were blessings and lasting relationships that mattered. I would encourage you to read this for your own take and from your own perspective. I thank St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my copy. I thank Mr. Stein for his words.

Under a Rock: a Memoir by Chris Stein

I was provided a galley edition for review, and I am really torn.

Did I love the book? No. Did I enjoy it? I did.

Why the split decision? Because as I read Under a Rock: a Memoir by Chris Stein, I felt like I was reading a dictation of audio interviews with the interview prompts edited out. I wasn’t prepared for that when I first started reading.

That was the only editing sometimes that I felt happened in this book. I think it’s a good representation of what Chris Stein wanted to share with us. He presents the story as he wanted. It’s fair. It’s his book right? So here my impression: read it that way. Listen to some of the interviews he has done throughout the years so that you can have his voice in your head as you go through the journey. I think you will get much more out if it that way.

I did and it really helped me to enjoy the book more. Seriously.

Chris Stein is a genius, Mensa level genius, which he writes about from his childhood. It was a wonderful nugget shared. I held that information close when I was reading. He has so much to share with us, fans and readers alike that it’s unfortunate that it was not reigned in a touch to make the book more linear at times. I don’t think we needed a lot of editing but a little bit would have helped with the focus.

So I had to go this place when I was reading. Also, because it was a galley edition I didn’t have the visuals that he shared in the print edition. Chris Stein is a photographer at heart and art. So maybe that was missed too. I do have a print edition coming and look forward to revisiting the book with that context too.

Read this book as one sided conversation sharing memories of a time from a respected elder. This is not a rambling of a crazy person, but ramblings of a person trying to capture everything and then leaving it to others to bring it to fruition in an understandable way at the end (which maybe doesn’t happen as clearly as we the reader would like). There is a sense of place but it’s chaotic truth.

It is so just matter of fact, the squalor of late 1960s to 1980s New York City, that it’s almost missed that his band “Blondie” was at the precipice of all music styles coming at that time. He founded a band that was so interested in all different genres, that while under the title of “punk” or “new wave” really the sheer variety of content that they recorded, often gets missed. Again, I go back to genius level human here.

There is a lot of drug content in the book, and due to it’s matter-of-factness may be triggering, but it’s not played up or down here. It’s just “there”. But that is his truth.

It also goes to show that adage… “Be kind. We never know what people are going through. Give grace and mercy because one day your circumstance could change and you may need it.”… ― Germany Kent.

As a lover of Blondie, I had no idea. Nor should I have until now.

Because of that at Chapter 9, I put the book down and picked up another. The break was needed.

Then at the first half of Chapter 10 I was rewarded by the most beautiful writing of the book.

I have read some other reviews where they comment that this is a cautionary tale of rock and roll stardom. I must disagree because really Blondie where never “stars”. They as a band were well regarded and niched into new wave and punk, but they were so very much more than that. They were never the “stars” that they could have been, should have been. Many of the recollections were of excess and then the downfalls which without fanfare are so important to remember.

This is a fable of great love of friends, a time where anything was possible and addictions of all types. The perspective is worth taking in and reading. Yes, this is about his on-going relationship between Debbie Harry (that I think fans of Blondie want to read about) but truthfully so much more. I really do appreciate that more than I thought I could when I finished it.

“Under a Rock” is a valuable memoir presented with his singular voice. Chris Stein makes a valuable note of what he feels truth of what the book is about too, in what is a very touching and heart wrenching epilogue.

This was the interesting book.Because this is my generation and I could really relate to it. This man was very interesting because he did all different types of music.And he also suffered from addiction. You had a rough upbringing but he made things work.I like how it explained when he did different things like when he was very young.I couldn't believe you went to california on his own. He's very gifted but a lot of times the pot need the coke really kind of affected him. When you met Debbie and they started the band called the Blondie, but they had a different name in the beginning and they wish to go down to CV. G.. New york was a lot fairer in those days because the rent was really cheap and people really could express themselves. How we met these interesting people and related to them and how they related to him. People didn't really help him especially his managers. I I like when they went to Europe.It was very interesting how they bought the drugs with them. His friends are also from the past kept in contact with Then. Talk about the lower east side especially Thompson square.. This was a lot of fun because people were just themselves. You eventually married a woman named barbara and had two daughters. We struggled with the addiction for a long time And Was on M ETH ADO.N e. To help him curb the heroin. Debbie was also addicted but she chose not to go that R o u t e. They eventually broke up. Everybody wanted to do their own thing.It gets really tiring when you always On the road. This book is really interesting because it shows you how you can come through difficult times and make something of your life

As a fan of Blondie’s music, I was excited for the opportunity to read this. Thank you to publisher St. Martin’s Press who provided an Advanced Reader Copy via #NetGalley.

From this #memoir, I was interested to learn Chris Stein’s story, meeting band members and the coming together of the band, and the process in their music writing with details of each of their contributions… I didn’t find any of the above in this book. Maybe he wrote more thoroughly on this in his other books prior, but the poorly written stream of consciousness displayed here doesn’t turn me on to pursue his previous writings.

I’d like to give benefit of the doubt that this is his memoir and not a “history of Blondie” book so maybe he chose to write memories reaching as far back into his childhood as he could remember, with mentions they “played a show” or “went on tour with…”. I was surprised he made mention of the DC radio station festival I attended with my brother and friends when we saw Blondie perform during the HFStival at RFK Stadium 31MAY1997. Band-wise, considering his history with her, he mentions Debbie quite often starting around chapter 5, including sarcastic, funny one-liners from her which I found amusing. (I’m still very much interested in reading her book.)

As far as his stream of consciousness story-telling goes, many local street characters with little to no introduction that are seemingly familiar to only him (irrelevant to the reader) fade in and out, along with quick remembrance of events with The Ramones, Joan Jett, New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed… Unfortunately every time my interest was piqued by a story seemingly building, he would tell the reader either to “look it up” or he would just shut it down completely with “et cetera”. All throughout the entirety of the books duration… “look it up.” “Et cetera.” At only 300 pages I found this to be a difficult read. I quickly lost interest again and again, etc., and lacked the motivation to stick with it due to constantly being let down… cliff hangers… lackadaisical. Look it up.

He mentioned a time when they, as a couple, were attacked/mugged and wrote of Debbie getting raped as nonchalantly as he talks about finding a kitten in an alley and it’s now his pet. Matter of fact. Dry. Lack of emotion. I had to keep re-reading the line to ensure I processed this tragic event, considering how quickly he wrote it off. It’s a sensitive subject for some. For me. As a friend, band mate, her former lover, the seemingly lack of care in his writing on this happening to her had no place in his memoir. IMHO, It wasn’t his story or experience to write off.

In hindsight, I don’t personally know the guy. This is the first and only book of his that I’ll take the time to read. Maybe he was taking a punk rock “piss off” approach in his writing, in which case he has succeeded. There was no care to engage the reader with great writing, nor was there concern to edit down, or flesh out redundancies.

It's not really my place to judge someone's life choices so I won't really comment on that but I will say that this read like someone just writing down every single thing that comes to mind from their life. There are so many people who were mentioned that it is impossible to keep track of all of them. What I was looking for from this biography did not meet my expectations. 2.5 stars rounded up. *Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title

UNDER A ROCK by Chris Stein was an interesting read, albeit long, wandering, and off-putting in places. I remember Blondie bursting onto a confused, fracturing music scene with powerful, compelling, irresistible lyrics and amazing performances. With Stein's memoir, that time was brought to life for me, complete with all the drugs, the musicians, the frenetic pace of becoming successful as musicians and performers. I cannot say I was enthralled with every story from Stein's life and I question some of the vivid and particular memories -- who remembers looking through their crib bars and riding in a baby carriage, never mind much of anything with drug use and addiction? But, all in all, I skimmed the name dropping and the lists of the who-did-this-and-then-that-happened and paused at fascinating anecdotes from an interesting life. Possibly this book will resonate more for those more into the music scene of the 1980s and Blondie specifically. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Growing up in the 80's one of my favorite bands was Blondie. Watching and listening to Debbie Harry sing those songs made me feel like I was not alone in the world because I happen to not like what the other kids were listening to. I read Debby harry's autobigraphy and then heard Chris Stein was writing his own aurtobiography which is called Under th Rock. It's a very personal book that explains how the band came to be and how his growing up in NYC really influenced him musically. You get a lot of family stories and rock and roll situations and oh tons of drugs considering it was 80's New York City. Stein's storytelling may not be for all but hey he was in the band Blondie so why would expect it to be a standard biography. It brought back a lot of memories for me reading this book and how he also felt different. This book for would be a great summer book to read and talk about over the summer and you'll be putting Blondie on you Spotify list if it's not already there. Thank you to St Martins and Netgalley for the read!

The first thing you know about Chris Stein is that he is, with Debbie Harry, one of the founding members of Blondie. There's so much more to his story. Under A Rock is a rock star memoir, a love letter to New York, a juicy romp and a warning (kids, don't try this at home). He must have kept diaries to share various anecdotes from his childhood and beyond. He was raised on a "long leash" and made it to San Francisco during the Summer of Love as a teenager. He participated in demonstrations protesting the Vietnam War in DC. Back in New York he hung out in the East Village and saw performances by everybody from Janis Joplin to Frank Zappa and the Mothers. He took a bus to upstate New York to attend Woodstock. His band opened for the Velvet Underground when the original opening act canceled. He's the Forrest Gump of his generation and we haven't even gotten to the 70s yet.

There are a ton of stories and it's a miracle he a) lived through his drug use and b) remembered enough to fill up this book. There were a lot of drugs, and he doesn't glamorize it. It just was. The places he lived in could be described as squalor (many cats were the solution to the mice problem). But it put him at the heart of a major scene. This short list barely scratches the surface: Warhol, Jagger, Bowie, Iggy, Patti, Burroughs, Basquiat, the Ramones, Fripp, H.R. Giger.

We get the rise of Blondie, the story of Stein and Harry, the band's ups and downs (and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). The long hiatus, the coming back together. Blondie was BIG, from CBGB to world tours. As they were gaining traction they toured incessantly, opening for everybody, until they were the headliners.

I enjoyed this memoir a lot. It was charming, and he doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. He's just telling his stories.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Full disclosure, I was not familiar with Chris Stein. Blondie for sure, but not the history. Under a Rock had me captivated throughout. From Chris Stein's early years to exploring the music scene that influenced his punk style. When my interest is piqued to start researching, I know I've found a book to sink my teeth into. His association with many names and bands that have met success had my attention. In particular his relationship with Debbie Harry. He has had a full life traveling the world and it's a treat to read this memoir. Fans of rock bios will find this a good addition to their collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy.