When Pat Benatar and Debbie Harry of Blondie burst into the rock scene in the 1970s, the hard-rocking foursome known as The Donnas weren't even alive.

But that doesn't mean The Donnas haven't been inspired by the vintage rockers edgy attitudes and benefited from the virtual glass stage the females shattered when they entered the male-dominated genre of rock 'n' roll more than three decades ago. 

Now the 29-year-olds that make up The Donnas will hit the stage on Saturday at the Tachi Palace prior to Benatar and Harry, whose music they describe as "life changing."

The female group formed in a Palo Alto junior high school in Northern California where the four girls formed a rock 'n' roll band at the age of 13 in 1993.

Sixteen years and eight critically acclaimed rock 'n' roll albums later and the original foursome remains intact: Brett Anderson on lead vocals, Maya Ford on bass, Allison Robertson on guitar and Torry Castellano on drums.

"We just have a connection that runs deep," said the guitar-playing Robertson. ""We love each other more than most families do and we've spent most of our lives together."

Their steadfast longevity is a testament to their friendship and dedication to their career that hit a high point in 2007 with their self-released 2007 album "Bitchin," which featured their biggest hit "Take It Off."

Sassy lyrics and hard-hitting riffs reflect their brazen, no-nonsense attitudes that Robertson said began when she was about 5 and saw Debbie Harry perform with Blondie.

"She has the greatest attitude on stage," Robertson said. "So gorgeous yet always full of sharp attitude."

This summer they'll be playing several shows with Blondie and Benatar during their "Call Me Invincible" tour, mixed with a string of their own headlining shows at clubs and venues throughout the United States.

"We are extremely honored to be sharing the stage with both of them," Robertson said.

The girls will be fresh off a stage in Sacramento when they come to Lemoore on Saturday to play songs like "Get Rid of That Girl" and "You Make Me Hot."

It will be the first time they've played in the Valley, and Robertson said they "can't wait." On Sunday night they'll rock a stage in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel.

To celebrate 16 years of music the band released a career retrospective on July 7, "The Donnas Greatest Hits Vol. 16," on their own Purple Feather Records label.

"I am so glad we decided to make a greatest hits because it let us re-live some of the best moments of our career," said lead singer Anderson.

The album features two brand new songs, two never-before-heard B-sides from their self-released 2007 album "Bitchin," live versions of "Take It Off" and "Fall Behind Me" and two previously unreleased tracks from the band's earliest days together.

They've also re-recorded five tracks, remixed one and included two alternative versions of songs.

Over the years the band's music has evolved as they've gotten louder and more confident, but the foursome's bond has kept them grounded and looking toward their future.

"I still think our general spirit and sense of humor in our music is always there, no matter how we've grown," Robertson said.

This reporter can be reached at 583-2427.

(July 24, 2009)