A pairing of rock and new wave

Pat Benatar was in a studio recording her first album, “In the Heat of the Night,” in June 1979, when the punk band Blondie graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

By then Blondie — headed by the very blonde Deborah Harry — had three albums under its belt, the last of which, “Parallel Lines,” included the smash hit, “Heart of Glass.”

In the years that followed, the two acts would release numerous chart toppers and take home many honors — rocker Benatar is one of the top-selling female artists of all-time and one of the 1980s top platinum album recipients, while Blondie just a few years back received a coveted spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But while their songs were sometimes on the charts at the same time, these two hit acts never took the stage together.

Until now. Blondie and Benatar have joined forces with the female punkers the Donnas for the Call Me Invincible Tour, which will make its way to the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

“Deborah and I have been friends forever,” said Pat Benatar in a prepared release. “I’m thrilled that we’re finally getting an opportunity to tour together, it should be a blast.”

According to accounts so far, it has.

The tour began in Saratoga, Calif., on July 21 and ends in Houston, Texas, Aug. 23.

Set lists for the tour so far have featured still-popular hits like “Heartbreaker” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” from Benatar and “Call me,” “Rapture” and “One Way or Another” from Blondie.

“Pat Benatar is not only a friend, but a fearless female rocker who has entertained me and her wealth of fans for so many years,” said Harry in a release. “This will be a reunion for us both and being able to bring our two shows to fans across the country is very exciting!”

For Benatar, the tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of her debut album. She’ll be joined on stage by a trio of familiar faces — Neil Giraldo, her husband/guitar player/songwriting partner; original drummer Myron Grombacher; and longtime bassist Mick Mahan.

Benatar’s tunes are infused with her blue-collar Long Island roots. The lyrics often touch on life’s tribulations.

Take, for instance, “Heartbreaker”:

“Your love is like a tidal wave, spinning over my head

Drownin’ me in your promises, better left unsaid

You’re the right kind of sinner, to release my inner fantasy

The invincible winner, and you know that you were born to be

You’re a Heartbreaker

Dream Maker, Love Taker

Don’t you mess around with me!”

Benatar, a four-time Grammy Award-winner, has 19 Top 40 singles to her credit. She is classically trained, known for her vast mezzo-soprano range, and she’s ranked the most successful female rock vocalist of all time by Billboard Magazine.

Blondie, meanwhile, earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. The band emerged as the great pop icons of New York’s celebrated late ’70s new-wave punk scene. Harry — a former Playboy Bunny — went from a mostly underground punk following to being on the cover of just about every mainstream publication.

For Blondie, the tour is another step toward a new CD. Drummer Clem Burke has said in published reports that the tour has included preparations for another record, which the band hopes to record in the fall and release next year.

Burke joined Harry and guitarist Chris Stein just after they got together in the mid-1970s to form Blondie, named — as the story goes — after the catcalls of construction worker types at Harry. The original group also included guitarist Jimmy Destri, bassist/guitarist Frank Infante and bassist Nigel Harrison. 

Though he still contributes to the group as a songwriter, Destri hasn’t joined Blondie on the tour.

If you go

WHAT  Call Me Invincible Tour featuring Pat Benatar, Blondie and the Donnas

WHEN  Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. (gates open 5 p.m.)

WHERE  Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, on Finger Lakes Community College campus, Lincoln Hill Road, Hopewell

TICKETS $35-$65 ($25 lawn), available at www.ticketmaster.com; (800) 745-3000; Blue Cross Arena box office (1 War Memorial Square, Rochester), (585) 758-5330; or the CMAC box office open at noon show days only

PARKING  $10 general admission, $20 VIP

ALSO  No service fees if tickets are purchased Tuesdays