ArtsLONDON

BLONDE ON

As BlondieB LONDEreturns to play live in London, Debbie Harry tells Sophy Grimshaw why she’s happy to be an honorary Brit

ebbie Harry was born in 1945, and then there will be a product, but Long after Blondie split the songs and promptly given up for that’s down the road. It’s in the pipeline. stayed popular, didn’t they? adoption. Growing up, she says I have collaborated with a lot of “Yeah, and we were sort of amazed by sheD fantasised that her real mother was diferent people. Someone will give me that. The material has stood the test of Marilyn Monroe – and maybe she was a track [to write lyrics to] and I’ll take it time. We try to bring fresh sounds into onto something. Harry certainly became away and try and get moody with it.” the songs and sometimes change the the Monroe of the New York punk rock arrangements. Sometimes we include a scene, with her band Blondie melding Do you still enjoy touring? bit of another [artist’s] song, in a 1960s girl group influences with the fresh “We only have five weeks on the road in breakdown section, so people can sounds of New Wave. 1978’s Parallel Lines Europe this summer, so it’s not that understand our frame of reference, album brought the band global fame. gruelling. Once you get into the routine what we’re listening to. We reinterpret They split in the early 1980s, but have of it, get rolling and are used to the the songs. So it’s not like we just stand been back together since 1997, and tour time-zone change, it’s ok. It can be up there and do it from blind memory. Europe this summer. difcult when you’re travelling long We really try and make the songs active distances and you have to go and do a and part of a contemporary scene.” Blondie has always had a loyal show the next night, that’s tiring. But fanbase in Britain; do you feel a you get into a groove.” You’ve always been celebrated for strong connection to the UK? your style and beauty, but did you “Yes, it’s very magical and amazing for Did having time away from Blondie, ever wish people would focus less us to have the support we have there. to pursue other music and acting, on your looks? It’s partially due to the fact that we were make it more enjoyable to reform? “There’s always that weird combination [first] signed to a British label, and a lot “Yes, and that continues. We work on a of your artistic endeavour, and also of people initially thought that we were lot of diferent projects. Chris [Stein] is accepting the fact that it’s showbiz. And British, so they took us to heart. We first very interested in creating music for I do accept that. So one of the first came to London in 1975 – quite a while films, and people in the band write for things we tried to achieve with Blondie ago! It’s a city with so much culture to other singers. The possibilities have was to have a really strong, organised ofer, and I have a lot of friends there.” really opened up in terms of visual appearance. That’s something I contemporary music, because of the look for in any band that I go to see. In What can we expect from your live constant use of songs in advertising and Punk and New Wave people really took shows this summer? film. That’s very satisfying to me.” that to heart. A band like Devo would “We have recently recorded 15 or 16 be one of the most obvious examples. new tracks, so we’ll of course be And with Grunge, I don’t know if I DEBBIE’S LONDON wanting to play the new material, thought it was wonderful visually, but it Favourite neighbourhood because it’s exciting for us. But we was a unification of an idea, and it “I love going down the old King’s realise from experience that the fans Road, which is a walk of memories, made a statement.” want to hear their favourites, and so we although it’s changed quite a bit.” try to mix it up. One thing that will be Favourite galleries Which new bands do you like? fresh for the UK fans is a new video “I always look forward to going to “I am a real fan of Die Antwoord, show that we’ve prepared – it’s a nice the Tate (tate.org.uk), and I really from South Africa. They’re very fun complement to what we do on stage.” want to go to the David Bowie show and naughty and aggressive. And I

at the V&A (vam.ac.uk).” KLER like that.” C Favourite Shops If there are that many new tracks, “All of us in the band like to go does that mean a new album, too? shopping in the West End, that’s Blondie plays live at the Roundhouse on STRI CARA “To start with we are going to release always fun.” 7 July and at Kew Botanical Gardens on the songs on the internet for download, 11 July. blondie.net PHOTOGRAPH: 1234567890 <#L#> THE LONDON MAGAZINE THE LONDON MAGAZINE <#R#>