Chris Stein’s story starts in Brooklyn, where he was born in 1950 into a free-thinking, politically leftist household.

He wasn’t exactly a model student—he got expelled from high school and bounced around for a bit before enrolling at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. That’s where two of his lifelong passions really started to take shape: music and photography.

Chris was already playing guitar in garage bands, soaking up the British Invasion and psychedelic rock, but art school helped him discover an eye for capturing moments on film.

In the early '70s, Chris joined a band called the Stilettos. It was through that group that he met Debbie Harry.

The connection was immediate. Romantic, creative, everything.

When the Stilettos fell apart, Chris and Debbie stuck together and started what would become Blondie. They quickly became fixtures on the New York downtown scene where punk, art, and fashion were all bleeding into each other.

Chris began co-writing songs, shaping the band’s sound, and supporting Debbie’s electric presence as frontwoman. He was all about texture, mood, and space and could be sharp and punky but also knew when to strip things back.

Chris co-wrote some of Blondie’s biggest songs—“Heart of Glass,” “Dreaming,” “Rip Her to Shreds,” and “In the Flesh.” Chris was always ahead of the curve.

At the same time, he was constantly documenting everything with his camera. Chris was rarely without it, snapping candid photos of Debbie backstage and artists like Andy Warhol.

Chris and Debbie’s relationship was central to the whole Blondie story. They were partners in every sense—romantic, creative, and emotional. Chris has often called her his muse, and their chemistry fueled a lot of what made the band so compelling. But their life together wasn’t always easy.

In the early '80s, just as Blondie was hitting a commercial peak, Chris was diagnosed with a rare and serious autoimmune disease. It was debilitating and required years of treatment. Debbie dropped everything to care for him. The band fell apart. Fame took a back seat. And though they eventually ended their romantic relationship, their connection never really broke. They’ve stayed close ever since, continuing to collaborate and support each other through everything that followed.

After Blondie disbanded in '82, Chris stepped away from the spotlight for a while. He worked behind the scenes, producing music. He collaborated with artists like Iggy Pop and while Debbie launched a solo career, Chris helped to shape projects.

In the late '90s, Blondie got back together, and to everyone's surprise, they scored a huge hit with “Maria,” which went to number one in the UK. It was a real comeback moment, showing that the band still had something to say and an audience ready to hear it.

Since then, they’ve released several albums—No Exit, The Curse of Blondie, Panic of Girls, and Pollinator—and have toured the world to multiple generations of fans. Chris kept writing and producing, still the quiet engine driving things forward.

Health issues forced him to step away from touring in 2022, particularly heart-related problems that made life on the road difficult. But that didn’t stop him from continuing to contribute creatively. He’s still very much involved in the band’s work and continues to explore photography, with his images being shown in galleries and books. His visual work is finally getting the recognition it deserves, not just as Blondie ephemera, but as important cultural documentation.

Throughout it all, Chris Stein was never the loudest voice in the room, but always one of the most interesting. Whether with a guitar or a camera, he's been quietly shaping how we see and hear a pivotal moment in music and art history. His life has been messy and brilliant and uniquely his own.

In this episode Chris Stein shares stories from his life and points us to his latest book - his autobiography - 'Under A Rock'

His is a fascinating tale. I hope you enjoy it.

Former singer and actor Bobby Sherman has passed away at 81 years old.

In March, it was revealed Sherman was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Born in Santa Monica and raised in Van Nuys, Sherman was a teen idol in the late ’60s and early ’70s. From 1968 to 1970, he starred in the ABC series “Here Come the Brides.”

He later appeared on episodes of “Honey West,” “The Partridge Family,” “The Mod Squad,” “Murder She Wrote,” “The Monkees,” and more.Sherman then left show business and became a paramedic.

He volunteered with the Los Angeles Police Department and instructed CPR and first aid classes. In the 1990s, he became a technical reserve officer with the LAPD, serving until 2017.

In 1999, he was honored as the LAPD’s Reserve Officer of the Year. He also served as a deputy sheriff with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and retired in 2010.

In 2011, Sherman and Brigitte founded the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation, which is a “Ghana-based center that provides local children with quality education and programs, along with meals for the entire community,” the foundation’s website explains.

RIP Bobby Sherman. You meant so much to so many.

Norman Greenbaum may be forever linked to the unforgettable guitar riff and gospel-tinged chorus of “Spirit in the Sky,” but there’s so much more to his story than one legendary song.

Born in Massachusetts, Norman grew up in a Jewish household. Even though religion wasn’t a big part of his life, music definitely was.

He studied briefly at university, but the pull of music was too strong. Like many young artists chasing creative dreams in the '60s, Norman packed up and moved west to LA — the epicenter of folk revival, psychedelic rock, and counterculture energy.

Before launching a solo career, Norman played with a psychedelic folk group called Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band. Their minor hit, The Eggplant That Ate Chicago, gave him a taste of the music business and a foot in the door, but it wasn’t exactly where he saw his future. He wanted to explore songwriting with a bit more edge, a bit more soul.

In 69, Norman wrote the song that would catapult him into music history — “Spirit in the Sky.”

A gritty, fuzzed-out electric guitar line, handclaps, and gospel harmonies sung by the Stovall Sisters gave the track its signature sound. The lyrics, which talk about meeting Jesus and being ready to die, struck an odd chord coming from a secular Jewish guy. But it worked. In fact, it worked better than anyone expected.

Norman wrote the song in about 15 minutes and it hit like lightning.

“Spirit in the Sky” soared to #3 - topped charts around the world, and sold over two million copies. It became an instant classic.

Norman followed it up with an album of the same name which included tracks like “Canned Ham” and “Milk Cow.”

As the '70s unfolded, Norman continued to record and release music but the commercial magic of “Spirit in the Sky” proved tough to recreate.

He eventually left the pressures of the music industry and settled into a quieter life. In the 70s, he moved to Petaluma, California, where he ran a dairy farm, produced goat cheese, and lived off the royalties from his big hit.

Through the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, “Spirit in the Sky” found new life in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

While he wasn’t releasing new albums regularly, Norman stayed connected to fans. In the 2000s, he began performing again on a limited basis. He never lost his dry wit or his humility.

In 2015, Norman made headlines again — this time due to a tragic car accident. He was a passenger in a car that collided with a motorcycle in Santa Rosa, California. The motorcyclist died in the crash, and Norman was critically injured, spending weeks in the hospital. The accident deeply affected him, not only physically but emotionally. He’s spoken about the lasting impact it had on him, especially considering the spiritual nature of his most famous song.

After a long recovery, Norman slowly returned to public appearances, embracing a quieter life but still keeping the door open to music.

He continues to live in Santa Rosa, where he maintains an official website, spiritinthesky.com, which features music, photos, and ways for fans to reach out.

Norman has received renewed attention as younger generations discover the song through streaming platforms and soundtracks. The song’s fusion of rock, gospel, and spiritual themes has helped it transcend its era, sounding just as powerful today as it did in 1969.

“Spirit in the Sky” is more than just a classic rock anthem — it’s become a cultural touchstone.

And Norman Greenbaum, the man behind it, remains one of rock’s most fascinating figures: a thoughtful, funny, unassuming songwriter who struck gold by following his instincts and trusting in the power of a good hook.

In this episode we meet and chat with Norman Greenbaum and pick that incredile brain of his.

I hope you enjoy it!