Name: Blondie.

Born: Debbie Harry is 66, born July 1, 1945, in Miami, Florida. Chris Stein is 61, born January 5, 1950, Brooklyn, New York.

Band members: Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Clem Burke (drums), Leigh Fox (bass), Matt Katz-Bohen (piano, organ, keyboards), Tommy Kessler (guitar).

Key influences: Early disco, pop, rap and reggae. Inspiration comes from the Bee Gees all the way to Bob Marley and the New York pop culture scene of Andy Warhol’s Factory and his house band, the Velvet Underground.

Biggest hits: Number ones include Heart Of Glass, Sunday Girl, Atomic, Call Me, The Tide Is High and Maria. Other top ten hits include Denis, Dreaming and Hanging On The Telephone.

Creative peak: Most essential listen is Parallel Lines, their third studio album, released in 1978 on Chrysalis Records. It has sold 20 million copies worldwide and was pronounced the 18th greatest album of all time by NME in 2003.

Debbie Harry on the band now: “Somebody said to me, ‘Oh, you’ve mellowed’. I don’t know if that’s totally true, but we’re smarter, more efficient, better at what we do. And we really want to make it good. We’re real dedicated”.

Debbie Harry on retiring: “I can’t imagine retiring. I want to keep on doing things, of course. I feel pretty good about what I’ve achieved. But I’m aware I can’t be fronting a pop band or rock band and performing forever, sure, even if I’d like to”.

Last time they played in North Yorkshire: December 11, 2005, to a sell-out crowd at the Harrogate International Centre.

Latest album: Panic Of Girls, which they released themselves without a record label.

Where, when and why in York: They will be playing at York’s Racecourse Music Showcase weekend tonight. They are due to start at 8.45pm. Please note anyone wishing to see the concert must also buy a ticket to races.

- Jamie Carson