He is a musician, songwriter, composer and writer.
When he was twenty, and known as Gary Valentine, he became a founding member of the new wave band Blondie and wrote their first single “X-Offender”, initially entitled “Sex-Offender” as well as “(I’m Always Touched By) Your Presence Dear”. He left the group in 1977 before they had gained their later successes, being replaced by Nigel Harrison, and moved to Los Angeles. Here, he formed The Know from members of the group The Mumps and his claim to fame for them is that they were the first band to play at Madame Wong’s Chinese, which is a punk venue and restaurant in Los Angeles.
He also appeared as a guitarist for Iggy Pop and several years later formed the group Fire Escape. Blondie excluded him when they regrouped in the 1990s but was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
After many years in the industry he released the solo album Tomorrow Belongs To You in 2003.
Alongside his music he is also a recognised author of books and newspaper and magazine articles that concentrate on the two subjects; the occult and music. His publications include Turn Off Your Mind: The Mystic Sixties and The Dark Side of the Age of Aquarius, Into the Interior: Discovering Swedenborg, Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction To His Life and Work and New York Rocker: My Life in the Blank Generation with Blondie, Iggy Pop and Others.
Here he is performing his “(I’m Always Touched By) Your Presence Dear”…
Sources:
- http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Gary_Valentine_Lachman
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Valentine_Lachman
- http://www.rambles.net/lachman_turnoff01.html