Face It

A Memoir

By: Debbie Harry

Narrated by: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Alannah Currie, Gary Valentine

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

An audiobook edition of Face It, the much-anticipated autobiography from rock icon and lead singer of Blondie Debbie Harry. 

Face It is performed by Debbie Harry with vocal guest appearances from Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Alannah Currie, and Gary Valentine with original music by Chris Stein.

Filled with never-before-seen photos and art throughout, the much-anticipated autobiography from rock icon and lead singer of Blondie Debbie Harry.

Brave, beautiful, and born to be punk

Musician, actor, activist, and the iconic face of New York City cool, Debbie Harry is the front woman of Blondie, a band that 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, 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. Aesthetically dazzling, and including never-before-seen photographs, bespoke illustrations, and fan art installations, Face It brings Debbie Harry’s world and artistic sensibilities to life.

Following her path from glorious commercial success to heroin addiction, the near-death of partner Chris Stein, a heart-wrenching bankruptcy, and Blondie’s breakup as a band to her multifaceted acting career in more than 30 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.

"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." (From Face It)

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 HarperAudio

Disappointed

I bough this book based on great reviews and and a fondness for rock autobiographies. I have to say I was incredibly disappointed and had a hard time finishing. Though Debbie Harry is a talented musician, she gives a very halting and monotone narration. Her stories often seem unfinished. She jumps around a lot and will start to tell what seems to be a great story (going to one of Timothy Leary’s happenings in the 60’s for example), but then seems to share mundane parts of the storyline and leaves out the interesting details (she talked about his his long lecture and how she ended up being partnered up with a guy who was an FBI agent, and then... that was it). She alludes to extensive drug use but never really talks about it, she mentions her 13 year relationship with Chris Stein and her enduring friendship and love for him, but never once mentions why they broke up or even alludes that there were having difficulties. There was apparently tons of drama between band members, but again, she never really talks about it other than mentioning law suits and bad managers. I think overall, there just seems to be a lack of emotion in the book. More of a bland recounting of memories (and how is it possible to make her life sound bland? I don’t know!) At the end she tries to lighten things up by adding a 12 minute chapter where she rambles on about interesting things about thumbs. Really. Just... thumbs. If found myself rolling my eyes so many times through this book. I guess if you’re already well versed in Blondie history, this might be an interesting little addition to your knowledge base. But as a reader looking for a good story.... look elsewhere.

Buyer beware.

I am an addict of rock bios, and it’s always better when the author reads theirs. Not so much in this case; the reading of this book was painful. It’s as if Debbie Harry forgot how to read. Truly excruciating.
Unless you’re a hard core Blondie fan I’d shy away from this title.

Oddly dull

She either led a dull life for a rock star or was unwilling to really open up about it. Still, it’s Debbie Harry. She narrates her own book and she’s charming!

Exceptionally boring

They say life is what happens in between the events. It also makes for an incredibly boring memoir. It feels like she is trying to give up as little about herself and her peers as possible. It sounds like SHE YAWNS MULTIPLE TIMES during the reading of this book.

Not bad

I love autobiography's especially from my generation. I do want to thank Debbie Harry for her contribution as well. I thought it odd she didn't mention Chrissie Hynde in her book, but thankful she did acknowledge Joan Jett in the end. She added one sentence that really irritated me and showed me right away of her lack of education and brainwashing through indoctrination. Debbie Harry is obviously intelligent and surely has been preoccupied with her own life's path through her music. Her statement about being an environmentalist and an American and anti-Trump floored me. She also stated how New York has always had her pulse. I'm an ex-New Yorker who is totally American that loves the environment and can clearly see that Donald Trump (who is totally a New Yorker) has done more for the environment, minorities of all kinds and has shown he loves our country more than any other president in our lifetime! Maybe you were too busy Debbie, with your work and you had to rely on things you may have heard from un-American sources to educate yourself in that field. Unfortunately that is indoctrination instead of education. I hope you were too busy and haven't fallen for that crap. President Donald Trump is all New Yorker, all American and totally driven to make our country the best it can be. My only question to you is what is it you don't like about what your fellow New Yorker who is now President is doing for our country? I'm hoping you love our country as much as he does and what opportunities this country has given you.

Great overview of her life!

If you are a fan of the scene she came out or just a fan of her you will enjoy this experience. All of this being said, nothing better than the author reading the work especially since it is about the author. Makes a more wholesome listen. Worth it!

as far as rock memoirs go, this was bland....

Don't get me wrong, you'll manage to finish the book and be entertained but you won't learn that much more than you already knew if you're a fan. I read a lot of rock star memoirs and typically those who read their own put great emotion into the reading, Debbie lacks that. It's almost as she's reading her own book for the first time.

SO BORING

This is one of the lamest memoirs I've ever listened to/read. Nothing ever happens and just when you think you're about to hear something interesting...she steers away from the story to another irrelevant topic. I wanted to hear some salacious details about the punk scene, touring and drug use but sadly they never came. This book was a huge let down for me.

I loved this book

Debbie's reading of this book will reinvigorate the long neglected punk rock soul in anyone.
So many great stories, snapshots of daily life and tiny morsels of tasty details about the ups and downs of the music business.
Debbie has marched through life with brains, beauty and balls. It's a GREAT book!!

a long let down

they say never meet your Heroes they should also say never Listen to Your Heroes Memoirs from their own mouth