In 1979, Blondie played a now-demolished Philadelphia venue. They were attacked with glowsticks
Blondie were pelted with objects during a January 1979 performance at Philadelphia’s Spectrum, where they had been brought in at short notice to replace Stillwater on Rush’s tour. The hostile reception came from fans expecting the southern rock band, and the incident showed how exposed the rising new wave group could be when playing to an unreceptive crowd.
The article says the audience threw glass bottles and glowsticks during Blondie’s set, which lasted three songs. Debbie Harry returned a bottle thrown at her and shouted at the crowd, while drummer Clem Burke used his cymbals as a shield before knocking over his drum kit. The Spectrum held about 18,000 people and was demolished in 2010; Blondie soon found wider success when “Heart of Glass” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- Blondie faced a hostile crowd at Philadelphia’s Spectrum in 1979.
- The audience threw bottles and glowsticks during their set.
- “Heart of Glass” later topped the US chart.