On May 26, Jack Lee, the lead singer of the power-pop trio The Nerves and the talented songwriter behind Blondie’s iconic 1978 hit “Hanging on the Telephone,” passed away in Santa Monica, California. Lee had been battling colon cancer for three years, as confirmed by his family and management team in a statement shared with Newsound. They revealed that he remained dedicated to his music until the very end, with his guitar always by his side. His family wrote, “He lived his songs. One by one, they told the story of his life. Some dreams die. His never will.” Jack Lee was 71 years old.
Born in Alaska in 1952, Jack Lee felt a strong connection to the West Coast during his early adolescence. At the age of 15, he left home and settled in Santa Monica, where he resided for a few years before embarking on a journey to San Francisco at the age of 19. Interestingly, it was a fortuitous encounter with a woman named Constance Williams, who gave him a ride in her blue T-Bird, that led to their eventual marriage and her encouragement for Lee to pursue music. Williams even partially funded his recording of “Hanging on the Telephone.”
Once settled in San Francisco, Lee began busking in the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, where he crossed paths with fellow street musician Peter Case. The collaboration between Lee, Case, and an additional member, Paul Collins, gave birth to The Nerves in 1974. Lee handled vocals and guitar duties, while Case played bass and Collins joined on drums. The trio crafted energetic and raw rock ‘n’ roll with infectious melodies reminiscent of Beatlemania. Their frenetic style foreshadowed the emerging punk movement but clashed with the fading flower-power era of early 1970s San Francisco.
In 1976, The Nerves released their self-titled debut EP through Lee’s own Maiden America label. The four-track record included the original version of “Hanging on the Telephone,” as well as Lee’s compositions “Give Me Some Time,” “When You Find Out,” and “Working Too Hard.”
In 1977, The Nerves relocated to Los Angeles, the heart of a thriving local punk scene. They seamlessly integrated into the city’s music landscape, sharing bills with notable acts such as Germs, the Weirdos, and the Zeros in Hollywood venues. After local performances and touring extensively across the United States, The Nerves disbanded the following year. However, Lee received exciting news: Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie, had heard “Hanging on the Telephone” and expressed interest in recording it.
Lee first learned of Harry’s admiration for his song through his friend Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the vocalist of the Gun Club. Reflecting on that pivotal day in a 2007 interview with Mojo, Lee recalled, “I remember the day vividly. It was a Friday. They were going to cut off our electricity at six o’clock, the phone too.” He added that the irresistibly catchy nature of the song even captivated those who disliked him, stating, “Even people who hated me—and there were plenty—had to admit it was great.”
