In the 35 years since Blondie’s first single, “X Offender,” was released -- and ignored by radio -- the band has defied trends, survived breakups both personal and professional, and sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
Blondie’s centerpiece, the sassy, brassy Debbie Harry, still, at 66, relishes being on stage -- lives for it, really -- even when it means 10-hour trips on the tour bus to get to the next performance stop.
The venerable New Wave-pop-punk band, which boasts the original trio of Harry, Chris Stein (guitar, bass) and Clem Burke (drums) at its core, just released its ninth studio album, “Panic of Girls,” in physical form (the digital version arrived in May). It’s a sinewy collection that showcases Blondie’s strengths, from the squiggly synthesizers propelling “Mother” to the Latin-tinged “Wipe Off My Sweat” to the tough drumming underneath “D-Day.”
Being able to express a handful of these new songs -- as well as pop chestnuts “Dreaming,” “Call Me” and “Rapture” -- live isn’t something Harry takes for granted. Nor does she need to do it with a lot of flash -- although she might like to try a glitzier route.
“We’re not playing super-big venues, so we have our basic stage and lighting design. It’s pretty much us with good sound and mics,” Harry said last week from a tour stop in Canada. “One of these days I’d like to do a crazy big-production show. That would be fun. We did one in the early '80s with elevator risers and other stuff going on. I think that was the tour that we did with Duran Duran and helped introduce them in the U.S.”
In conversation, Harry is wonderfully forthright and happy to reminisce. How can she not have a storehouse of memories, from Blondie’s legendary early success on the New York club scene to the band’s period of massive stardom in the United Kingdom and Australia?
But she’s also firmly planted in the here and now, happy to expound on the current state of music and, as a quintessential New Yorker, share her thoughts about the anniversary of 9/11.
First, though, talk turns to Kate Pierson, one-fourth of Athens’ B-52s, who has a cameo in the zombie-filled video for “Mother.”
The two aren’t necessarily close friends, but, Harry said: “We’ve known each other since the '70s. Wow, it’s staggering to say that!”
She continued with a story about first meeting Pierson when Blondie played Atlanta.
“The [B-52s] came to see us play, and somehow they found our hotel after the show and brought a blender with them to make daiquiris. They were so super. It was so much fun. We toured with them a lot, too, and Kate lived down the street from me in New York for awhile and lives in upstate New York now, like Chris [Stein],” Harry said.
Recently, Lady Gaga interviewed Harry for the current issue of Harper's Bazaar, and the elder stateswoman of pop said she believes artists such as Gaga are, like Blondie in its prime, in the midst of creating something timeless -- at least for a certain generation.
“Music and social lives have different functions at different times in your life. When you’re younger, it’s about discovering people and becoming an adult. These are treasured times and music becomes very significant, it denotes a piece of you,” Harry said. “But people who say music today is nothing compared to music of the past -- it serves a different purpose in their lives. I think there is great music all of the time because I love music and I pay attention. It serves a different purpose in my life because I’m a musician. I have to have it; I have to be a part of it.”
Harry, with her effortless cool, and Blondie are as closely associated with New York City as Woody Allen and Studio 54. Hundreds of iconic images of them rollicking through sweaty sets at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City pepper the Internet.
Though Harry was born in Miami, she grew up in New Jersey and slipped across the bridge to New York after college to work as a secretary. A love affair with the city hasn’t waned.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Harry watched from her bedroom window as the twin towers burned and fell and said witnessing it was “beyond description.”
With this week’s decade remembrance of the terrorist attack, Harry pondered the meaningfulness of the anniversary.
“I did -- and do -- feel the tragic loss. But because I’m a world traveler, my life was involved with terrorism for so long. Germany in the '70s and the IRA in the U.K. It’s always been very relevant to me, and when I would come home and it wasn’t happening, I always felt we were very isolated compared to what was going on in Europe,” she said. “But the world is a different place now. I feel we should evolve from saying this terrorism thing happened to us. It’s a worldwide thing, not just us. We can mourn the people who were lost. But the problem of terrorism and people understanding people and their economics and religion ... those are the real challenges.”
Some other concerts coming this fall:
Journey with Foreigner and Night Ranger: It's a trifecta of nostalgia. While the bands' most lucrative period came in the '70s and '80s with more than 50 hits among them, they all remain a live draw. Some of the faces might be different, but that won't prevent you from singing along to "Don't Stop Believin'." 7 p.m. Sept. 16. $26-$141. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
Ray LaMontagne with Brandi Carlile and the Secret Sisters: The introspective musings of LaMontagne coupled with his deeply affecting voice have turned him into a folk hero for a new generation. 7 p.m. Sept. 18. $29-$55. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
Earth, Wind & Fire with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: It's not as if "That's the Way of the World" or "After the Love Has Gone" need to sound more sumptuous, but just imagine what the ASO will add. 8 p.m. Sept. 23. $25-$89. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta.
Music Midtown Festival: with Coldplay, the Black Keys, Manchester Orchestra, Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant and more. Revived after a five-year break, the event is a smaller version of its former self but still has the same goal -- to inundate music lovers with a full day of sound. 1 p.m. Sept. 24. $56. The Meadow at Piedmont Park, Atlanta.
Wilco with Nick Lowe: The Chicago folk-rockers will headline a two-night stand two days after the release of their eighth studio album, "The Whole Love." 8 p.m. Sept. 28-29. $38. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Third Day with Steven Curtis Chapman and Tenth Avenue North: Marietta's Grammy Award-winning Christian sons return as part of their 40-city "Make Your Move" tour. 7 p.m. Oct. 1. $23-$76. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
"Weird" Al Yankovic: The parody master just released his 13th album, "Alpocalypse," which satirizes Lady Gaga and contains one of his patented polka medleys -- in case you've always wanted to hear Justin Bieber's "Baby" on the squeezebox. 8 p.m. Oct. 1. $25-$45. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Taylor Swift with Needtobreathe and Danny Gokey: Country's current sweetheart had to nix her original Atlanta shows in July because of illness, which proved, finally, that she is not superhuman. 7 p.m. Oct. 1-2. $25-$69.50. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Chris Brown with Kelly Rowland, T-Pain and TYGA: In a comeback to rival Michael Vick's, Brown has demonstrated that fans are willing to forgive. But he's bringing some R&B notables with him just in case. 7 p.m. Oct. 2. $25.75-$85.75. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
Joe Jonas with Jay Sean: Perhaps you've heard of this good-looking, stubbled young man before. Now is your chance to see if he'll become a Donny Osmond or a Tom Fogerty. 8 p.m. Oct. 3. $44.50. The Tabernacle, Atlanta.
Lindsey Buckingham: He helped out pal Stevie Nicks on her latest solo album before unveiling his own earlier this month. Songs from the new "Seeds We Sow" and his other five solo efforts will likely dominate the set list. 8 p.m. Oct. 7. $45-$95. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.
Widespread Panic: The Athens jammers are in the midst of a 25th anniversary tour. If you're looking for a night of chilling with laid-back, like-minded fans, this is prime time. 6 p.m. Oct. 8. $47. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
Toby Keith with Eric Church and J.T. Hodges: Keith often jokes at his shows that he's going to play "some redneck songs," which is exactly what his fans come to hear. Church made some noise earlier this month when his "Chief" made a surprising bow at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 7 p.m. Oct. 8. $24.25-$74. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
The Script: Hard to believe the Irish rockers have been hitting the U.S. charts for almost two years now. Then again, it does seem as if "Breakeven" is played every 20 minutes on radio. 8 p.m. Oct. 9. $30. The Tabernacle, Atlanta.
Cyndi Lauper with Dr. John: 8 p.m. Oct. 12. Last year, the multifaceted Lauper released "Memphis Blues," a searing study in vocal brilliance complemented by the presence of heavy-hitters Allen Toussaint and Charlie Musselwhite. Hanging with Dr. John should be a trip. $37-$73. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Duran Duran with Neon Trees: Back in Atlanta after thrilling fans with an intimate, muscular set at Center Stage this spring, the enduring British band continues to promote its excellent new album, "All You Need is Now." 8 p.m. Oct. 14. $35-$65.50. Chastain Park Amphitheatre (nontable setup), Atlanta.
Adele: After canceling the end of her spring tour -- including a sold-out date at the Tabernacle -- because of laryngitis, the British soul phenom rescheduled in bigger venues to accommodate her escalating popularity. 8 p.m. Oct. 16. $75. Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Sold out.
Enrique Iglesias with Pitbull and Prince Royce: It's a bit hard to believe that the hunky Latin pop star has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, but it's less incredulous that he's landed three Top 20 hits in the U.S. this past year. 7 p.m. Oct. 20. $19.50-$89.50. Gwinnett Arena, Duluth.
Sugarland with Sara Bareilles: The Atlanta-based country megastars will wrap their massive "Incredible Machine" tour at home after nearly a year on the road on a tour that has endured some unexpected tragedy. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. $35-$100. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Foo Fighters: With the combination of Dave Grohl, loud guitars and sweat, could hard rock fans ask for anything more? 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7. $31.50-$51.50. Gwinnett Arena, Duluth.
Reba McEntire with the Band Perry, Steel Magnolia and Edens Edge: The unstoppable country matriarch is still schooling the kids on how it's done. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. $25-$69.50. Gwinnett Arena, Duluth.
Tori Amos: Long before Lady Gaga, Amos ruled as the Queen of Quirk. Her "Night of Hunters" tour gets its U.S. launch here. 8 p.m. Nov. 29. $41.50-$63.50. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Tony Bennett: If you've never seen Bennett live, well, he's a legend for a reason. This rescheduled concert date comes two months after the scheduled release of his "Duets II" album. 8 p.m. Nov. 25. $52-$122. Fox Theatre, Atlanta.
The Throne featuring Kanye West and Jay-Z: It's a good thing this 25-date tour featuring the titans of rap is kicking off in Atlanta because, given West's inability to play well with others, there is a good chance the whole shebang could dissolve by December. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29. $59.50-$250. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Tickets to all shows: 1-800-745-3000 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
Concert preview
Blondie with The Romantics
8 p.m. Sept. 23. $19.85-$59.85. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta.
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