Councilperson District 3 Candidate RANDY QUIÑONES’ FOCUS: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT By Ruben Cantu - The Texas Times Looking to become the voice of the unheard and give back to the community, a small business owner and lifelong Delrioan will be looking for a place at the table in the upcoming election, when three city council positions will be up for grabs. Randy Quinones, a Del Rio High School and South West Texas Junior College graduate, will be getting his feet wet in local politics as he runs for the position of Councilperson District 3. Quinones, a DRHS Class of 2004 grad, earned a degree in criminal justice, homeland security from SWTJC, he later started his own company and for the last six to seven years has been serving the Del Rio community through Connected Home Solutions, a licensed security home contractor. Quinones, a security consultant, sells and installs burglar alarms and fire alarms. As a concerned Del Rioan, Quinones saw in this election an opportunity for the younger generation to get involved in local politics, and he his throwing his hat in the ring. “I am looking forward to growth and progress for the community, an opportunity to move forward,” he said. He said that the future of the city has always been resting in the shoulders of “my friends’ parents or uncles. I have never seen younger (people running for office), and I want to see the younger generation participating,” he said. Quinones said that the community has been good to him and his business, and “this is a good way of giving back, I look out for opportunities to make correct decisions, I like to stay connected to the people because that is something I do everyday whether it is their home or business,” he said. Quinones is married, he and his wife are expecting, and he said that is another reason for him to run for office. “Planning for the future, that’s even more motivation,” he said. He said that if elected to office, he would be looking forward for the city council to work with the school board, the county and hospital district to benefit all local residents. Quinones said he would be focusing in growth and development. “Within the district, I want to be their voice, I am usually available,” he said. He also said he will be working with all councilpersons and the mayor. “I want to bring my ideas to the table, I would work with the entire council because that’s what I do everyday, I would work with the entire council to make proper, educated decisions,” he said. Asked about the new international bridge, Quinones said that “looking at other towns and trade, I do feel that it would benefit us, where the bridge is going to be placed I do not know.” He also emphasized that city employees are an integral part of how things get done within the City of Del Rio. “Our city employees need to be taken care of, the council just help them make decisions, some employees have been there for five, ten-plus years, we need to make sure they are well taken care for,” he said. Quinones asked Del Rioans to make their voices heard, and come out and vote in this May election. “I would humbly asking for the city to come out and vote, give me an opportunity to make our city great,” he said. Summer is almost upon us and some of the best entertainment of hitting the STREAM as we speak.
Not talking about the stuff that’s only on the Big Screens everywhere but stuff that exclusive to Streaming and beyond. A bunch of new shows have just hit The STREAM all over and some are definitely on the way so no matter where you are....keep your eyes, ears and favorite Streaming Devices ready for the downloads. As how that’s taken streamers by surprise is Resident Alien on SyFy. The folks at Imbd say; “An alien, who has crash-landed on earth on a mission to destroy humanity, assumes the identity of Dr. Harry Vanderspeigel so he can remain undetected by the residents of Patience, CO as he searches the snow-covered Colorado mountains for pieces of his ship. He learns “to be human” by watching Law and Order and mimicking the late, great Jerry Orbach. One day the sheriff of Patience, Mike “Big Black” Thompson, and his deputy, Liv Baker, show up at his isolated cabin. There has been a murder in town and they need a doctor. The murder victim is the town doctor. Soon, he finds himself in the role of the new town doctor, putting him in constant contact with the townspeople. Something, until now, he has assiduously avoided. As he spends more time with humans, he learns more about them and what makes them human. This gives him pause but he is still determined to complete his mission to destroy the people of Earth. He learns one person in town can see him in his true form, complicating matters.” A new season just started on February 14th so there’s no time like the present to jump on and catch up. DUNE: Part TWO is knocking down some major views on Streams everywhere too. From Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures; ““Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.” Rated: PG13 RUBS: 2 Hrs 46 mins DUNE: PART TWO Is NOW Streaming on Big Screens and small everywhere. RAMBLE ON by Ken HerreraOur nearest celestial neighbor, the moon, formed approximately 95 million years after the formation of our solar system which is itself roughly 4.6 billion years old. How did it form? There are various theories about its formation. Scientists have suggested that a chunk of the Earth was blown away due to an impact with a smaller object about 10% the mass of our primitive molten planet. This is known as the large impact theory. While this theory is most widely accepted in the scientific community, others say that the moon was captured or even that Earth stole the moon from the planet Venus. Even scientists can’t agree! What they can agree on is that the moon is a rocky formation just like Earth. On average, the distance from the Earth to the moon is 238,855 miles. At its Perigee (closest approach to Earth) 225,700 miles and at its Apogee (farthest distance from Earth 252,000 miles from Earth. With that being said, many people believe in some conspiracies pertaining to our moon. One conspiracy is that the 1st manned lunar landing in July 1969 along with the other Apollo missions were faked. Conspiracy theorists believe that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin acted out their mission on a secret film set. Did they? You can decide for yourself. Currently, the Artemis program is a moon exploration program intended to reestablish a human presence on the moon since the end of the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Time will tell if humankind makes it to the next settlement- a permanent lunar base on the moon and next possibly, an excursion to Mars! Let’s go!! Elodia "Loly" Garcia: Experience, Consistency, ContinuityExperience, continuity, consistency and the same spirit of community service that inspired her to run for office four years ago, is the driving force behind Elodia “Loly” Garcia’s bid for re-election as the Val Verde County tax assessor collector. Garcia is running in the March 5 Democratic Party Primary Election. The winner of the race will face the Republican Party nominee in November. • TT: What are the main challenges you’ve found in the Tax Assessor Collector’s office since you were elected? • EG: While not calling them challenges, the DMV, under the approval and support of the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Department, is guided by the State. Therefore, being an agent for the state, our office follows their guidelines. There are times that we have to explain to our constituent’s the different scenarios and the process, as it may pertain to them. We do not prepare our guidelines but abide by the State’s. While some things may seem complex, once we explain, the matter is settled to the constituent’s satisfaction. • TT: What changes have you implemented since you were first elected? • EG: Cross training was one of my first goals and it has been implemented. Some staff are fully trained in both the Auto and Tax departments. I have changed some of the leadership in each department and have yet to have any turnover since then. We have changed the software we use for collection of taxes. I must underline that these are changes that must be approved by Commissioner’s Court. All changes need to be approved by them and the county attorney needs to approve all contracts. In the Auto Dept. the changes come from the State. In the election side, we work with the Secretary of State to update all new data daily. I need to follow the Tax Code, the DMV guidelines and the election rode. • TT: What’s the main reason you’d tell the voters in Val Verde County that you are the most qualified individual for the job? • EC: Experience would be the main reason and my reasons behind that statement are: 1) I love my job. 2) I know my job. I am a 24-year employee in all positions of the office. Being a first term tax assessor-collector has been an honor and a privilege. I have served with integrity and am grateful to Mrs. Beatriz Munoz for guiding me and preparing me for that first term. • TT: If you are re-elected what be your short, mid and long-term goals for the office of the Tax Assessor Collector? • EC: Goals go hand-in-hand whether they labeled short term, mid-term and long term. I would want to continue growing in learning more when it becomes available. • TT: Having served in office, what is inspiring you to run for re-election? • EC: I have had tremendous positive feedback from my constituents. They know my work ethic and my commitment. Those that know me know that I am a family--oriented person and that I love my job. I truly get my inspiration from my constituents and of course, my family who knows me well and believe in me. I ask anyone who has any concerns or questions as to my qualifications or office questions to please call me. I will gladly speak to you. Inspired by his vision of growth and economic progress, a local entrepreneur and Iraq veteran is running for a place in the Val Verde County commissioners court. Eddie Amezcua, Jr., a Del Rio native and Del Rio High School graduate, is looking for the Republican nomination to the position of County Commissioner Precinct 3. The Republican Primary Election will be held on March 5. Amezcua, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was deployed in the war on terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He said he is looking forward to make a difference for the residents of Val Verde County with his vision and experience after being involved in several clubs and organizations in the education, community service and economic fields. “I feel that Del Rio will be growing considerably in the next 5 to 10 years, and I feel that with my background in the economic and education boards I am able to work with others in a time that is very crucial,” he said. Amezcua, owner of several restaurants, is a past president of the Del Rio Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor of the Rotary Club, and has also served as president for the Economic Development Corporation, vice president for the SFDRCISD Education Foundation, Civic Leader for Laughlin Air Force base and remains an active member for the Del Rio Chamber and Military Affairs Association. “I was born and raised here, I came back to invest in Del Rio, as a county commissioner I would dedicate my time to the residents of the county,” he said. Amezcua’s vision for Precinct 3 includes the need of fire services, infrastructure among other improvements. “U.S. Highway 90 is growing and it needs to be a focus, in certain subdivisions turning lanes are needed and I would advocate for that,” he said. Post-military service, Amezcua pursued a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He then worked as a Child Protective Service Investigator for the State of Texas, aiding families in the San Antonio area. Presently, Amezcua is a successful entrepreneur in Del Rio, owning multiple restaurants including Del Rio’s Buffalo Wings and Rings, Teriyaki Madness, and Skillets. “The biggest thing is that I have is a track record, as president of Rotary Club we had the idea of putting bathrooms downtown, and the good thing about it is that all of us work together to complete the mission, I know how to work with others,” he said. As member of the Economic Development Corporation, Amezcua voted for capital infrastructure improvements, including more than $1 million in funds for the Sentry lane at the Ciudad Acuña-Del Rio International Bridge. “I advocate for Laughlin Air Force Base, to make sure we get the things that we need to do in the county and to move forward,” he said. Amezcua is happily married to his wife Annie, they two children, Laura and Eddie. Your Smart phone, your tablet, your Lap Top or PC, no matter where you catch you streams these days there is lt’s to choose from, that’s for sure.
Among the Top flicks everyone’s streaming these days is TRUE DETECTIVE for MAX. From HBO it’s an “Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law. True Detective: Night Country is the fourth season of True Detective, an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto. The season is set in the fictional town of Ennis,Alaska, and follows the investigation behind the disappearance of eight men from a research station. The season stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as Detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro. It is the first season to carry a subtitle.” You can stream Ture Detective on Max, or buy it on Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV. Also showing up strong is Griselda on NETFLIX. “The savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswomen Griselda Blanco creates one of the most profitable cartels in history. The story follows Griselda Blanco, a powerful crime boss, and her rise in the Miami drug scene and pursuit of power and wealth. Paranoia and betrayal lead to her downfall, with her actions resulting in multiple deaths, including that of a child. To escape retaliation, Griselda turns herself in but faces unexpected consequences.” Executive producers: Eric Newman, Andrés Baiz, Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda, Carlo Bernard, Sofía Vergara Luis Balaguer. Coming to a screen near you anytime now, MR. and MRS SMITH. “Two lonely strangers land jobs working for a mysterious spy agency but must hold identities as a married couple. Stream it soon on Prime Video. Catch you next time On The Streams. RAMBLE ON by Ken HerreraWhat is HISTORY? By definition according to dictionary.com it is the branch of knowledge dealing with past events; a continuous systemic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account: a systematic account of any set of natural phenomena without particular reference to time. Does anyone really understand what is happening in our world today? There are people out there trying to erase history. Schools no longer teach the American History the way it was once taught. In other parts of the world we are seeing Jihadists destroy Roman monuments. We have witnessed the Taliban destroy Buddhist statues carved into the mountains over 1,000 years ago. We have a history of watching Nazi Germany destroy books in bonfires. Does this bring us a better life by destroying history? Are we erasing history only to make some of the same terrible mistakes and create a new path? The problem with rewriting history - making it sound prettier, not as bad, not as nasty - is that, in addition to being offensive and inaccurate, it inflict harm on history itself. History is about understanding facts and learning lessons of what not to do and the mistakes that should not be repeated. History is the description of how the world got to be what it is today, and that is learned through facts about the past. If we change history, we are doing a disservice to the children who will grow up knowing nothing about how we came to be. For example, what if Germany rewrote the entire history of World War II, including the atrocities of the Holocaust? Or if the United States, during the same war, wiped out the interring of thousands of Japanese-American citizens. Or if Japanese historians erased the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which drew the United States into the war? While it might be easy to forget about past mistakes, the tragedy of a lesson unlearned is that one has no way of understanding when they are about to commit the same error. The sacrifice of so many must not become a footnote in the memory of humanity, but rather a well defined chapter. That way, it can be read and reread by generation who may understand the dangers of political systems that manipulate the mind and imprison the soul. We, as a nation and as a people, absolutely not try to rewrite history. We must teach it, and learn from it, and we should move forward to make our country and world a better, and more enlightened place for our future generations. If your vehicle has experienced hail damage — which is basically all Del Rio car/truck owners — there is a good chance you’ve made the acquaintance of PDR Pros owner Jason Schilling. The Michigan-born and Del-Rio-raised Schilling is the owner of the successful business. And his business is prolific in scope, probably because he’s all about “customer first.” “I guess my real enjoyment is taking care of the customers,” Schilling said. “You know, these people pay their monthly premium…to have insurance on something that they don’t want to have to pay for or have something happen. And then, when an incident actually happens, it’s an inconvenience for them. So what I like to try to do, is make the process as smooth as possible.” PDR Pros absorbs client deductibles, eliminating any out-of-pocket expense. “So it’s a win-win-win situation for all my clients, and I always make myself available. So if there’s ever a warranty issue or if there’s ever a problem, I just fix it.” A testament to his business and people acumen is that PDR Pros has taken him all over the country and to Australia multiple times. “The traveling has been nice meeting different people all over the country, seeing different things, working on different cars, seeing different perspectives,” Schilling said. “That’s been real enjoyable as well.” The genesis of PDR came by way of — go figure — a hailstorm. “There was a major hailstorm in Del Rio in…I want to say it was 2002 when I got introduced to the paintless dent repair process and saw what those guys were doing,” Schilling said. He committed himself to learning the trade, and PDR Pros was on the move. “And then I started traveling all over the country chasing hailstorms, fixing cars. I’ve been overseas fixing cars. I’ve fixed thousands of cars, brand-new cars for dealerships. And I’ve been doing that for quite some time now.” Perhaps you’ve met Jason or know of him outside of PDR Pros. His involvement in Del Rio commerce is vast. His first job was with UPS before opening up a car audio/alarm store and embracing the world of entrepreneurship. Car stereos then became cell phones. “And then I ventured into selling cellular phones, kind of like at the peak of the cell phone boom, and did really well, selling phones,” Schilling said. “And then I ended up buying a piece of property where I’m at now…and the cell phone business kind of started to fade out.” Schilling later embarked into the digital sign space, building some of the digital billboards that are very visible in Del Rio today. “…the big one at the overpass. The other one at 1800 Veterans Boulevard. And then the other one down there at Thompson Tire. And so I sold those to a company called Cine Ad out of Houston.” But it’s Del Rio that actually keeps him most busy these days. “You can work as much as you want to work if you’re willing to drive and chase the storms,” Schilling said. “But here recently, I’ve been really, really fortunate. There was that big storm in Del Rio in 2020, which basically hit the entire county. If your vehicle was outside, it had hail damage.” The work that resulted from that storm became so abundant that Schilling had to open his own body shop. “Oh, man, that was crazy. There was so much work,” Schilling said. “All the body shops that I typically do work for…they were so stacked up with work they couldn’t handle any of my work. So what I ended up doing is buying a piece of property going towards the base by that Texaco. And I remodeled that and bought some more land and turned it into a full-blown body shop.” So Schilling hasn’t had to leave Del Rio for work. “Well, I haven’t had to over the past four years because it just keeps haling in Del Rio.” The dent-repair specialist is grateful to Del Rio for playing a significant role in his journey. “And I’d like to say Del Rio has been really, really good to me. I’ve been blessed…most of the people in Del Rio are really great, great people. There’s the teachers in my life. The different authority figures in town have all had an impact and a positive influence on my life.” Professionally, Cory Taylor lives in a catch-22. Success is his reality, but maintaining it can be mentally and emotionally expensive. Especially, with just 25 employees or so.
“The problem with that is trying to keep up with the demand…So if you tell people you’re too far behind, or it’s going to take X amount of time to get something done, you can lose the work,” said Taylor, the owner of Arc-Rite. “But you can also make somebody mad if you’re taking too long. It can be very stressful at times.” Providing the needs of those requiring vehicle outfitting, commercial or retail, might seem like a straightforward undertaking, but think again. When a multitude of upgrades or changes are requested — for example, heavy-duty air compressors, diesel tanks, headache racks, work lights tied into the headache racks, running boards, tires, leveling kits and bumpers — it’s a monumental task to be sure. “And when there’s so many moving pieces to the puzzle when the fleets coming in and they’re not taking just one thing, they’re taking 40 things, from electrical to window tint to bumpers to the truck beds.” And when a customer presents something new to Taylor, something he has never installed, it’s not a simple order. But Taylor relishes the challenge of a big ask. “We did one last week. A buddy of mine, a good customer of mine, bought a 2023 Expedition and wanted us to figure out a way to put Starlink on it. So we did an in-motion Starlink system on it. Let’s, give it a shot. It’s either going to work, or it’s not…if there’s one thing that I’ve always said is cool about us is every day is different. It’s never the same.” Cory’s father, Clay, established Arc-Rite when the first George Bush was in office, as a one-bay muffler shop, before ultimately turning it into welding services for vehicle augmentation and improvement. Clay offered commercial services but primarily engaged the retail market. While continuing to serve the retail customer, Cory has focused efforts on expanding the commercial side of the business. The growth has been exponential. “From back then to now, it’s grown tremendously,” Cory said. “And now we’re in manufacturing and distribution. We distribute all over the country…running boards and headache racks and grill guards.” Commercial fleet outfitting has been a boon for the Del Rio company. “My thought is, if you become a necessity as opposed to just a straight luxury, then you know, you can be a lot busier,” he explained. “Companies need their trucks. They need them outfitted. They need to get on the road and start working and stuff like that.” Arc-Rite manufactures and distributes to companies that sell Arc-Rite products. “So we’ve got our own product line. I mean, we’re blessed. We’ve got trucks coming in from all over Texas to get outfitted…We’ve been very consistent in progress.” They’ve also grown into CNC plasma cut design as well, retaining an engineer on staff for blueprints and delineation, before fabricating prototypes in-house. And Clay. “My dad, for sure…I mean, big shoes to fill. All I’m trying to do is fill those shoes and continue to grow it. Make him proud. You know what I mean?” As far as the company’s growth, does Cory foresee Arc-Rite inhabiting the commercial outfitting space in other cities and regions? “Absolutely, 100%. I just want to keep expanding. I don’t want to stop expanding either…Recently, I’ve really been sitting back and trying to figure out if you can outgrow an area. So we have been looking into expanding into other cities as well. I just haven’t really taken that leap yet. But no, it’s definitely on the back burner for sure.” by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
allmusic.com Blondie is perhaps the quintessential new wave band: an art-pop group who made the leap from punk to the Top 40, polishing their spiky curves while simultaneously broadening their musical purview beyond trashy AM pop to encompass disco, reggae, and hip-hop. They brought underground sounds into the mainstream with a sly, knowing wink and the incandescent star power of Debbie Harry, the lead singer who co-led the group with guitarist Chris Stein. Blondie's blend of girl-group pop and garage rock first took hold in the U.K., when "Denis" and "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" reached the Top Ten in 1978, but when the group collaborated with Mike Chapman -- a producer who was a powerhouse in glam -- they crafted Parallel Lines, a sleek, modernist masterpiece anchored by the glitter-ball pulse of "Heart of Glass." Parallel Lines turned Blondie -- and especially Harry -- into superstars and the number one singles came furiously in the next two years. The Giorgio Moroder collaboration "Call Me" reached the top of the charts, followed by the lilting "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture," which was the first record with a rap to reach number one in 1981. Their fall was sudden as their rise: Blondie split after the dispirited 1982 LP The Hunter. After nearly 20 years apart, however, the group reunited in 1999 for No Exit, a record that revived them commercially and creatively. From that point forward, Blondie steadily toured and frequently recorded, releasing such acclaimed latter-day records as 2011's Panic of Girls and 2017's Pollinator. At the heart of Blondie is the relationship between Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, who first formed a bond while playing in the Stilettoes, a band formed in 1973. Harry previously sang in the Wind and the Willows, a precious folk-rock group that released an eponymous album on Capitol in 1968, but found herself drawn to the arty, edgy rock driving the scene anchored at the Mercer Arts Center. The New York Dolls provided particular inspiration for the fledgling singer, leading her to form the Stilettos with Elda Gentile, stylizing the band as a girl group that revitalized and sent up rock & roll oldies and B-movies. Stein joined the Stilettoes as a bassist and the pair built a friendship that turned romantic. Once the building housing the Mercer Arts Center collapsed on August 3, 1973, the scene gravitated to CBGB's in 1974, with the Stillettoes opening for Television in May of that year. By the end of the summer, Harry and Stein had formed their own group with bassist Fred Smith and drummer Billy O'Connor, along with Tish and Snooky Bellomo, playing a couple of shows as Angel and the Snake before settling on the name Blondie. Playing a combination of oldies and originals, Blondie quickly carved out a niche in the nascent New York punk scene, one that was adjacent to the buzzsaw bubblegum of the Ramones. Their lineup swiftly shifted, too, with Clem Burkereplacing O'Connor just prior to Smith and the Bellomos leaving the group. Gary Valentine joined as their bassist and Blondie set out to record a demo in June 1975, adding keyboardist Jimmy Destri to the lineup shortly afterward. In 1976, Blondie caught the ear of producer Richard Gottehrer, a veteran of the Brill Building who played a pivotal role in girl group pop; he co-wrote the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" and was part of the Strangeloves, co-writing their classic "I Want Candy." Gottehrer produced Blondie's debut single "X-Offender," arranging for the indie Private Stock to release the 45 in June of that year. Convinced that a full-length album would showcase Blondie's range, he brought Private Stock's owner Larry Uttall and Frankie Valli, the label's biggest artist, to CBGB's to see the band. Vallipersuaded Uttall to bankroll a full album, leading to the December 1976 release of Blondie. David Bowie and Iggy Pop were early supporters of Blondie, offering the band the opening slot for Pop's 1977 tour. Valentine left the group before the recording of Plastic Letters, a sophomore set that was helmed by Gottehrer; he was replaced after the recording by Frank Infante. During the album's sessions, Blondie signed with Chrysalis Records, which bought out the band's contract with Private Stock and released Plastic Letters in February 1978. "Denis," a cover of the old Randy and the Rainbows song "Denise," became a number two hit in the U.K., with "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" following it into the Top Ten. When Nigel Harrison joined as a bassist, Infante switched to guitar, turning Blondie into a sextet. Chrysalis paired Blondie with Mike Chapman, an Australian producer who cut his teeth with such fizzy glam rockers as the Sweet and Suzi Quatro. Chapman helped push Blondie in a pop direction on Parallel Lines, the album that proved to be their mainstream breakthrough. That success didn't happen suddenly. Initially, the album found an audience in Europe and England, with their cover of the Nerves' "Hanging on the Telephone" making it into the U.K. Top Ten, but it remained a cult attraction in America until "Heart of Glass" turned into a career-making blockbuster. An old song given a sterling disco makeover, "Heart of Glass" topped the charts in both the U.S. and the U.K., turning Blondie into the first new wave superstars in the process. Subsequent Parallel Lines singles also benefitted from "Heart of Glass: "Sunday Girl" reached number one in the U.K., while "One Way or Another" became their second American hit, peaking at 24 (it would later become a pop perennial). Blondie and Chapman reunited for Eat to the Beat, an album rushed out in the wake of Parallel Lines. It performed better in the U.K. than it did in the U.S.: "Dreaming" went to number two, while the LP topped out at 27 on Billboard. Blondie returned to number one with "Call Me," a disco collaboration with producer Giorgio Moroder. Cut quickly while on tour and showcased on the soundtrack to Paul Schrader's 1980 film American Gigolo, "Call Me" became a smash, spending six weeks at the top of the Billboard charts and reaching number one in the U.K. and Canada as well. "Call Me" helped push "Atomic" to number one in the U.K. (it just barely cracked the Billboard Top 40), by which time Blondie was working with Chapman on their next album, Autoamerican. Released at the end of the year, Autoamerican consolidated Blondie's success, with its first two singles, "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture," topping the Billboard charts. "Rapture" in particular helped forge new ground in how it incorporated rap and hip-hop into its new wave pulse. Despite all this success, Blondie was plagued with internal problems that began to boil over during the sessions for Autoamerican. The group decided not to support the record with a tour, a break that allowed Harry to record her solo debut KooKoo with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic; in turn, Stein produced Miami, the second album by the Gun Club, and Destri made a solo album, Heart on a Wall. Blondie reconvened with Chapman to make The Hunter, a scattershot album that failed to generate any hits. Within months of its May 1982 release, Blondie broke up. Over the next decade, Harry pursued a solo career, scoring minor British hits with "French Kissin" in 1986 and "I Want That Man" in 1989. That year, she and Steinended their romantic partnership; they remained friends. Stein was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease pemphigus vulgaris in 1983. He continued to pursue his interest in photography in the '80s and '90s. During those decades, Burke and Destri were both in-demand session musicians. The original Blondie lineup of Harry, Stein, Burke, Destri, and Valentine reunited in 1997 to play several shows, but by the time they released No Exit in 1999, Valentine was no longer part of the band. Supported by "Maria," an unexpected number one single in the U.K., No Exit performed well, peaking at three in the U.K. and 18 in the U.S. The Curse of Blondie didn't do as well in 2003 but it did generate the modest U.K. hit "Good Boys." Destri left the band in 2004, the same year Sanctuary released Live by Request. Blondie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. The band toured throughout the 2000s, adding bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Paul Carbonara, and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen to the official lineup along the way; Tommy Kessler joined as a guitarist in 2010. This version of Blondie made its debut with Panic of Girls, a 2011 studio album initially released as an attachment to a collectible magazine in the U.K.; it would later be available on its own. A new album, Ghosts of Download, was released as part of Blondie 4(0) Ever, a 2014 set that also featured a disc of re-recordings of the band's greatest hits. Blondie continued to tour regularly in the 2010s, with the group releasing the full-length Pollinator in 2017; "Fun," its lead single, went to number one on Billboard's dance chart. Vivir en la Habana, a documentary of the band's Cuban residency, appeared in 2021, accompanied by a soundtrack EP to the film. Blondie released the mammoth archival project Against the Odds: 1974-1982, a box set containing everything the group recorded for Private Stock and Chrysalis, on Numero Records in 2022. Stein sat out Blondie's tour that year due to problems with his heart, while Foxx couldn't tour either, due to a back injury; they were replaced by Andee Blacksugarand Glen Matlock, respectively. |
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