The Most Disappointing Albums of All Time (13): Blondie – “The Hunter” (1982)
If Blondie had broken up in 1981 instead of 1982, they would have left behind an absolutely flawless body of work. But they stuck it out one more year and gave the world “The Hunter” for contractual reasons.
It’s clear from the start that their hearts aren’t in this overproduced record. “Island of Lost Souls” is a pathetic attempt at another “The Tide Is High,” and their Beatles tribute “English Boys” is just embarrassing.
Blondie: “English Boys”:
“The austere, foreboding tone of this record suggests that Blondie has forgotten how to have fun and how to have fun,” wrote Rolling Stone’s Parke Puterbaugh.
“The Hunter is an album of icy, unreal moods for modern people, a mirror turned on our own peculiar, self-destructive social mores. At the very least, it will make you wonder how far from the mainstream a former new wave pop group can stray before finding themselves completely out of the loop.”
Chris Stein will probably never be on stage with Blondie again
Chris Stein was absent from the 2022 Blondie tour and was replaced on bass by former Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock for all of the band’s performances.
He explained his absence in April 2022 with: “I am sad and frustrated to announce that I will not be touring with Blondie. I’m dealing with a stupid condition called atrial fibrillation, which is irregular heartbeats, and combined with the medication I take for it, I’m too exhausted.” He said he was still involved in recordings and other band projects.
In a recent interview with the “Sunday Times“ The bassist said that he often feels “exhausted” and has come to terms with the fact that he won’t tour with the band again. He said: “I miss it (playing live) a little bit but it’s a lot of work and I’ve done it for 50 years, I’ve kind of got it out of my system. It is doubtful whether I will do any more concerts at this point.”
Fatal rock’n’roll lifestyle
He also makes it clear in the interview that he feels that his previous rock’n’roll lifestyle was damaging to his health. “All these things caught up with me as I got older. Don’t do drugs, kids, is all I can say. All the crap I’ve done over the years hasn’t helped.”
In the meantime, Stein has been working on something else. His memoir “Under A Rock” was published on June 11, 2024.