Before Blondie...

A fact few know is that Debbie Harry grew up as a teen in a mid-size town with no inkling she would someday be a famous singer.

Sunset Valley was your typical midwestern town, complete with a nuclear power plant, sports stadium, army base, and a beach. To Debbie, it was home and lauching pad, all in one.

Her mom kept their ramshackle house free of pests and boys (not an easy task on boths counts). Debbie was a lovely girl, or as Shirley Manson (lead singer of the band Garbage) would describe her 30 years later: The most beautiful woman in any room, in any city, on any planet.

But, that's a story that everyone knows and knows quite well. This tale chronicles the early years of Debbie Harry--before the band, CBGBs, the Sex Pistols, Ramones, Chris Stien, Andy Warhol, and unparalled success as a pop icon. This is a Debbie that few know and even fewer remember--a Debbie with aspiration, who cannot resist swiping stuff from neighbor's houses. A bottle blonde who is three steps ahead of the boys and one ahead of the law. Before MTV Debbie, there was Dreaming Debbie.

A simple home life

Bet you didn't know, Debbie was a straight A student! Yep, she dilegently worked her homework assignments all through high school. Her mom works at the town paper and they don't make much money, which is why Debbie is sitting on the floor.

Yes, their dwelling is modest and sparsely decorated, a far cry from the opulent life Debbie was destined to live.

But don't feel bad for Debbie, she took part in a rich variety of activities, such as modern art. Here she is discussing a piece with local tycoon Thorton Wolff. They seem to be hitting it off well. Debbie has her eye on him, he has the bucks to help her escape the dreary life of Sunset Valley.

Like any teen, Debbie frequently catches hell from Mom for staying out too late. It seems, according to Mom, she is the only one bringing an income into their household and Debbie is the only on spending any discretionary income. Thorton is looking better and better...

Mom usually turns in early, leaving young Deb to watch old movies on the TV late into the night....




... as well as the occasional night out....

Debauchery has a bitter price, young Deb soons learns.

Who cleans the mess? Mom, naturally?




After a particularly rough row with the old lady, Debbie is forced to find an alternative sleeping place. We end up with a pre-punk version of Goldilocks and the three bears.

As far as Debbie is concerned, the problem stems from a basic lack of privacy. I mean, how uncool is it to sleep in the same room as your parents?

So, while her mom was sleeping, Debbie swiped her credit card and hired some night contractors to come in and add a wing to the house....

These guys are good! They work fast and silently. The job is done (and the household purse is drained before sunset. Maybe Mom Harry wouldn't notice....