Debbie Harry in the New York Times
Today's New York Times profiles the talented and lovely Debbie Harry, best known as the vocalist for New Wave pioneers Blondie. For three decades, Harry, now 62, has released records that showcase her continuing evolution as an artist and, as collaborator Chris Stein refers to it, embody "her downtown sensibility." Her latest album, Necessary Evil, was released last week. From the New York Times:
Previously on BB and BB Gadgets:
• Cingular "Hanging on the Telephone" Commercial Link
• 8 punk and post-punk female singer videos Link
• 9 great old punk videos Link
• CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, RIP Link
Link to NYT article, Link to buy Deborah Harry's "Necessary Evil"...Legions of downtown girls imitate her Blondie-era style, from the shaggy dyed hair and red lips to the vampy shredded dresses. “Those bitches!” she joked. But she follows her progeny, counting M.I.A., Lily Allen and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs among her current favorites.
“She just never stopped being cool,” said another descendant, Johanna Fateman of the post-riot-grrrl band Le Tigre.
Ms. Harry demurred. “It’s hard for me to think that Blondie was so completely original,” she said. “I don’t really think that I’m an icon. I think an icon is a statue, something that’s frozen, you know. I don’t feel like that.”
Previously on BB and BB Gadgets:
• Cingular "Hanging on the Telephone" Commercial Link
• 8 punk and post-punk female singer videos Link
• 9 great old punk videos Link
• CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, RIP Link
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She looks like a truck driver.
~Oswegan
I like how the NYT glosses right over the well-publicized controversy between Harry/Stein and the other former Blondie members,
Though her romantic partnership with Mr. Stein ended long ago, they continue to work together. He produced several tracks on her album, and Ms. Harry said everyone in the band was interested in doing another Blondie record. (The group disbanded in 1982, but reunited in 1997 and has released two albums of new material since.) She is single now, but the “Necessary Evil” album doesn’t reflect that.
Well, reunited if by that you mean she went out and hired new musicians to perform as Blondie, and generally screwed the rest of the former band over.... well, ok, I guess you could say they reunited.
http://www.salon.com/ent/music/feature/1999/03/03sidebar.html