Blondie’s Chris Stein is pictured performing at Art Park Tuesday. P-J photo by Chris Chapman

For fans of the new wave pop punk band Blondie, one of the qualities that has stayed a constant is the strumming of guitarist Chris Stein. A scant 15-minute interview could never cover everything someone would want to ask the guy that had a romantic relationship with Debbie Harry, dealt with a serious autoimmune situation that put his career in jeopardy and is an accomplished photographer. Here’s just a sampling of his history and a bit of insight.

CHAPMAN: You are approaching close to 45 years since the start of the journey called Blondie. Despite the 12-year break, what’s been the glue that has kept this thing going?

STEIN: We just keep doing what we do, you know? To be honest, I will keep doing music no matter what happens.

CHAPMAN: Those four-plus decades have had to produce some interesting moments and given way to some great lessons. What would you say is the biggest lesson you’ve learned over that time?

STEIN: Man. That’s hard. I would rather offer advice to the younger bands that are coming up now. In the music business, enthusiasm isn’t enough. You really do have to work at it.

CHAPMAN: What do you mean by “work at it?” What is it that these artists have to work at?

STEIN: It’s really in the day-to-day. You have to get your music out more regularly. The longer I have been doing this the more I see things differently. You know, part of it is when it comes time to get ready to write or to tour. There’s getting the band together, the logistics of that whole thing. It can be really complicated. When you are getting ready to go on tour you’re always working on the show. It’s always a work in progress.

CHAPMAN: That makes sense. Looking back before all of this, who were your biggest influences in the music world?

STEIN: Well, I got my first guitar in 1962. Back then, I think we all had the same influences. I was listening to the old Blues guys and the usual suspects and same stuff as everyone else in the 1960s.

CHAPMAN: I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you about what you would consider your biggest career highlight.

STEIN: There are actually a lot of things. It’s always those little things, those events. I would have to say that the first time we played the UK was one of those things. Shows in the UK were always so much more physical. It was quite a contrast to what we had here.

CHAPMAN: Well, that leads me to your favorite part of a show. What is it that you really enjoy out there?

STEIN: It’s the little musical moments. Sometimes everything just clicks. Those are the moments I really enjoy.

CHAPMAN: So, I am going to shift gears a bit. You have found your way to being quite an accomplished photographer. I have seen some of your images and they are really impressive. How did that start?

STEIN: I was always screwing around with a camera, taking pictures here and there.

CHAPMAN: What are your favorite subjects to shoot?

STEIN: I really like street photographs. Life. In the early 1970s, I really had no idea of the changes that were coming to New York City. I am happy I was able to get out there and get pictures of things you don’t see anymore.