Blondie blown away by reaction
Original fans and new generations alike are undoubtedly bursting with excitement at the prospect of Blondie playing at this year’s GuilFest. The American band, who delighted and excited crowds in Guildford four years ago, are set to be performing once again as a headline act on Saturday, July 5. Guitarist and songwriter of Blondie, Chris Stein has been one of the core members of the group since they formed in the 70s.
Stein met lead singer Debbie Harry when he joined the Stilettos in 1973. The pair, who later became romantically involved, went on to recruit musicians and form Blondie. The name was chosen because it was what imaginative truckers used to shout out at Harry when they drove past in their trucks.
Stein, who has visited the UK on several occasions to perform, said: “I remember the very first show we had in England, how amazed we were to see how enthusiastic the crowds were, even compared to the American crowds. We’ve been doing these UK tours every year, Guildford’s one of these places where we’ve been before. We always walk around a little, but we do so many, things tend to blend together, so it’s hard to remember. It all comes back to you when you’re there though. For this year’s tour we’re going to try and add some new stuff.”
After gaining fame in 1978 following the release of the album Parallel Lines, Blondie stayed together for just four years before splitting up.
“We got back together in 1999, and it seems to be very successful. After we did that a lot of bands started doing reunions, we’ve always been a little premature in what we’re doing. I don’t think the dynamics really changed over that time,” Stein said.
When asked whether the band members still get on well together, he replied: “Sure. The band is what it is, it’s a family.”
Another reason for Blondie splitting up was the New York-born guitarist developing a rare and potentially fatal skin disease known as Pemphigus. Despite the fact that he spent a number of years recovering, he does not believe the experience had a particularly profound effect on him.
“I think having kids has changed my outlook on my life more than that, being able to spend time with my two girls has affected me a lot more than the medical thing,” he said.
When asked about how he feels about touring, Stein said: “I just love doing the show, I really missed playing with the band when we stopped. It gets me, everybody seems enthusiastic, everybody seems to look like they like it. Though I’m anti the rock star thing, although at the same time I think when anybody steps off stage they see themselves in that way.”
He added: “What I don’t like about being on tour is leaving the kids; they come to the American shows.”
Many bands have risen and subsequently dived into obscurity since Blondie first came onto the music scene.
Stein explained that he doesn’t really consider how his band compares to the competition.
He said: “I really don’t see other bands, though I saw the Blind Boys of Alabama, they were fantastic. The music I listen to is old reggae music, for pleasure.”
To book tickets to see Blondie or any of the other acts at GuilFest visit www.guilfest.co.uk/2008 or call the ticket hotline on 0871 424 0050.
First printed in: Surrey Advertiser
Hard to believe it, but Parallel Lines, the breakout album from New York City new wave icons Blondie, turns 30 this year. Frequently cited by critics and fans as Blondie's best, Parallel Lines spawned at least two instantly recognizable and ubiquitous classics-- "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass"-- and went on to sell 20 million copies worldwide. Not too shabby for a band which, as Blondie drummer Clem Burke nonchalantly puts it, was "just making music" at the time.
Pitchfork chatted with Burke recently about the album's pearl anniversary and the two celebratory gestures Blondie have planned: a deluxe reissue and two solid months of special shows on both sides of the Atlantic.
"We just wanted to make a statement about the Parallel Lines record being 30 years old," Burke offers matter-of-factly, before adding, with a laugh, "We wanted to make a statement that we're all old. We wanted to make sure everyone knew how old we were."
The North American half of the anniversary tour kicks off June 5 in Baltimore and fills out most of that month, followed closely by a gig in Israel and jaunt around Europe in July. And in ATP/Don't Look Back fashion, Blondie plan to rock Parallel Lines from front to back at each stop. "That's the general idea," Burke explains. "We're going to play the record and then another 45 minutes of Blondie stuff.
The other stuff will likely be a mix of songs from Blondie's late 1970s/early 1980s heyday and some material recorded since the combo reconvened in the late 1990s. "At this point, it's still kind of in the planning stages," Burke says. "We have a list of songs we can do. I guess we're going to have to wait and see how they feel when we play them live. I would definitely like to do stuff from the first two albums [1976's Blondie and 1977's Plastic Letters] that we don't really perform that often, that most people probably don't even know."
Burke doesn't really have a favorite song off Parallel Lines, but the ascent of one particular track buried deep in the album continues to amuse him. "At the time, we got a lot of flak for 'Heart of Glass'. [Now] it's one of the main Blondie songs that has endured and contributed to our success."
Blondie have delivered two records since reuniting late last century, 1999's No Exit and 2004's The Curse of Blondie. Can we expect another one? "We're definitely always talking about that," Burke reveals. "I think really, for ourselves, we need to make some new music, and it's been taking a while. I think it's time for a new record, just for ourselves. I would like to do a record that is without technology, myself. Just [us in the] studio, just playing, you know? I think the last record got really bogged down with technology."
The creation of new Blondie material these days regularly has to compete with a number of factors, including various band members' side pursuits. Deborah Harry, for instance, released solo album Necessary Evil last year, while Burke himself has at least two side-things going: Slinky Vagabond, which also features Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, and Magic Christian, led by Cyril Jordan of Flamin' Groovies fame.
A recent trip to Austin with Magic Christian helped Burke reconnect with his roots in the rock underground. "We did South by Southwest. We did five shows in two days at SXSW, really guerilla style, just kind of showing up at a venue, throwing gear on the stage. It was pretty damn fun. I think it's positive for me to do things like that."
Other than that, Burke's just "really excited about the [Blondie] tour. If it was up to me, we'd be on the road 300 days a year. I admire artists like Springsteen and Dylan-- obviously, they do it because they enjoy it. When I feel the most normal is when I'm on stage; I really enjoy touring. At this point, it's like going on vacation."
As for what's keeping Burke from his 300-days-a-year ideal? "Couches, beds, TV sets, kids," he shares with a laugh. "All those kind of things, I guess."
- Pitchforkmedia.com
Want to know where to go and what to do in New York City? Take a moment and Just Ask The Locals™. With insider tips on everything from late-night pizza to fine art, our NYC insiders and celebrities have you covered. For more tips on New York City, go to nycvisit.com. http://nycvisit.com/
Debbie Harry has been writing and recording some new tracks, and “Fit Right In” is from these sessions. Total straight up dance pop that should have Kylie and Madonna shaking in their boots. Listen, leave a comment and download the song for free at Big Stereo - http://this.bigstereo.net/
Blondie are going back on the road to mark the 30th anniversary of the 'Parallel Lines' album.
On September 23, 1978, pop siren Debbie Harry and her Blondie crew released their third album Parallel Lines' which gave the world Blondie's signature tune 'Heart of Glass' as well as the classics 'One Way or Another' and 'Hanging On The Telephone'.
The tour will kick off in Baltimore on June 5. In a statement, Chris Stein said, "We are looking forward to seeing new and old fans out there this summer. We have been doing pretty much the same show for several tours now, and this time we have more rehearsal time than usual and we're going to try to take it a bit further."
"Making Parallel Lines was such an incredible experience for us," Debbie Harry explained "It is so amazing to see that 30 years later it still resonates with people the same way that it did back then."
On June 24, Capitol Records will release a 30th anniversary edition of the album, featuring bonus tracks and a DVD of promotional videos from the album. A booklet containing the original album photo session is also being included in the new package.
Blondie: Parallel Lines (30th Anniversary Edition) (CD/DVD)
CD
1. Hanging On The Telephone
2. One Way Or Another
3. Picture This
4. Fade Away And Radiate
5. Pretty Baby
6. I Know But I Don't Know
7. 11:59
8. Will Anything Happen?
9. Sunday Girl
10. Heart Of Glass
11. I'm Gonna Love You Too
12. Just Go Away
Bonus tracks:
13. Heart Of Glass - [7" single version]
14. Sunday Girl - [French version]
15. Fade Away And Radiate [108 BPM Remix]
16. Hanging On The Telephone [Nosebleed Handbag Remix]
DVD
1. Picture This - [promo video]
2. Hanging On The Telephone - [promo video]
3. Heart Of Glass - [promo video]
4. Sunday Girl - [BBC TV, "Top Of The Pops"] - previously unreleased
Blondie - “Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary Tour”
June
Thursday 6/5/08 Baltimore, MD Ramshead
Friday 6/6/08 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts
Sunday 6/8/08 Jackson NJ Great Adventure
Tuesday 6/10/08 Kingston, NY Broadway Theatre
Thursday 6/12/08 Ontario, CAN Casino Rama
Friday 6/13/08 Ontario, CAN Casino Rama
Saturday 6/14/08 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Events Center
Tuesday 6/17/08 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
Wednesday 6/18/08 Farmingville, NY Brookhaven
Friday 6/20/08 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody
Saturday 6/21/08 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus
Sunday 6/22/08 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
Tuesday 6/24/08 Louisville, KY Kentucky Center
Thursday 6/26/08 Chester, WV Mountaineer Racetrack
Friday 6/27/08 Chicago, IL Lincoln Park Zoo
Saturday 6/28/08 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest
July
Thursday 7/3/08 Tel Aviv, Israel Raanana Amphitheatre
Saturday 7/5/08 Guilford, UK Guilfest
Sunday 7/6/08 Bristol, UK Academy
Tuesday 7/8/08 St. Petersburg, Russia Oktyabrski
Wednesday 7/9/08 Moscow, Russia B1
Thursday 7/10/08 Helsinki, Finland House Of Culture
Saturday 7/12/08 Belgium, Brussels Rock Zottegem
Sunday 7/13/08 Zurich, Switzerland Xtra Limmitshaus
Tuesday 7/15/08 Luxembourg Den Atelier
Wednesday 7/16/08 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso
Friday 7/18/08 Barcelona, Spain Summercase Festival
Saturday 7/19/08 Madrid, Spain Summercase Festival
Sunday 7/20/08 Suffolk, UK Latitude Festival
Tuesday 7/22/08 Liverpool, UK Liverpool Pops
Thursday 7/24/08 Galway, Ireland Ireland Arts Festival
Friday 7/25/08 Dublin, Ireland Vicar Street
Saturday 7/26/08 Glasgow, Scotland Academy
Monday 7/28/08 London, UK Motorshow Music Festival
Thursday 7/31/08 Sweden Storsjoyran Festival
August
Friday 8/1/08 Norway Storas Festival
Saturday 8/2/08 Oslo, Norway Rockerfeller
check myspace.com/blondie for datails!
A Behind the Scenes Look at the Making of The Ones' Music Video
PAPER TV recently went behind the scenes as downtown favorites The Ones shot a music video for their soon-to-be-dance-classic "When We Get Together." It was a star-studded affair with appearences by Debbie Harry, Miss Guy, Casey Spooner and others.
'If I Had You' Valentine's Day E-Card
check it out - http://www.ivpnewmedia.com/10thst/dh/valentines/
Deborah's new single from 'Necessary Evil' - out early February!
Video homage to the magnificent Deborah Harry.
Remix and video produced by Atomicboy - www.myspace.com/atomicboy69
Original version appears on Deborah's new album 'Necessary Evil'.
Check out debbie-harry.net and blondieforum.com for more info
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Links
Atomicboy's Music
The Official Deborah Harry Website
Official Blondie Website
