New wave/post-punk pioneers Blondie recently released Panic of Girls in the UK, their third album since reuniting in 1997, and ninth overall. The album includes the single "Mother," which they recently performed live and acoustic from Abbey Road. Check that video out, which includes an interview below. The music video, which B-52 Kate Pierson makes a cameo in, for the track is below too.

Panic of Girls now has a US release date of September 13 via the band's own imprint. They will head out on a North American tour in September and October in support of the album's stateside release. The tour hits NYC on September 12 and 13 at Highline Ballroom. Ticket info is not available yet, but check ticketweb for updates.

Beirut, whose track "Sunday Smile" is covered by Blondie on Panic of Girls, also has a North American tour around that same time. Beirut's tour hits NYC on September 21 and 22 at Terminal 5. Tickets for both of those shows go on Amex presale Wednesday (7/6) and general sale Friday. Listen to the cover below.

Speaking of Blondie covering indie bands, Debbie Harry contributed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Live Alone" to their Record Store Day Covers EP with help from the band themselves. LCD Soundsystem offered their take on the same song, though their cover is twice as long (obviously). Stream the entire EP below, which also features covers by Stephin Merritt, ESG, and Peaches. The Record Store Day release was a limited edition colored 12" vinyl. A few are available on ebay. The EP is also now available as a CD and black vinyl. CD versions are on sale at Amazon.

All Blondie tour dates, video, and the EP stream below...

Continue reading "Blondie announces tour in support of new album (that has a Beirut cover on it) --- dates, video & Franz Ferdinand too"

"An Andy Warhol portrait of Blondie star Debbie Harry is expected to fetch up to £5.5 million when it is auctioned at Sotheby's in London later this month.

The 1980 work will go under the hammer on 29 June as part of a two-day auction of contemporary art.

The event will also feature works from the collection of Dave Stewart, better known as one half of the Eurythmics.

Among the seven pieces up for grabs is an early spot painting by Damien Hirst dedicated to the British musician.

According to Sotheby's Cheyenne Westphal, the Harry portrait is "the ultimate culmination of Warhol's exploration of our public fascination with female cultural icons"." [BBC]

I wonder if Warhol were alive today if he would ever consider painting a portrait of Fergie who Debbie sadly shares a bill with in Central Park tonight (unless god intervenes with some serious thunder and lightning).

Blondie have dates scheduled in Europe this summer. Clem Burke recently took part in the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Irving Plaza.

"For the first time ever, two pioneering rock legends, Blondie and Pat Benatar, will share the stage on the Call Me Invincible tour. They will be joined by special guests The Donnas. They will embark on a trek across the U.S., beginning in Saratoga, CA on July 21st and ending August 23rd in Houston, TX. The Blondie and Benatar ticket gives fans of all ages three decades of hits from the two female rock icons for the price of one! Says Blondie front woman Deborah Harry, "Pat Benatar is not only a friend, but a fearless female rocker who has entertained me and her wealth of fans for so many years. This will be a reunion for us both and being able to bring our two shows to fans across the country is very exciting!" Between Blondie and Benatar, the tour will feature songs from a combined ten Platinum albums, eight #1 Hits and countless other favorites including "Heart of Glass," "Heartbreaker," "Call Me," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Rapture," "Invincible," "One Way or Another" and "Love is a Battlefield." Pat Benatar adds, "Deborah and I have been friends forever. I'm thrilled that we're finally getting an opportunity to tour together, it should be a blast." The tour also showcases original artwork created by New Orleans artist, Tim Neil. His unique design will be the recognizable image of the tour featuring the clever blending of both iconic faces and will also be available for purchase on select merchandise items.

The Brooklyn stop on this tour is a free show in Coney Island's Asser Levy Park on August 13th! All dates below...

Continue reading "Blondie, Pat Benatar & the Donnas - 2009 Tour Dates (includes a free show in Coney Island) "

A "child" of Andy Warhol, friend of Debbie Harry, buddy of artist Keith Haring, inspiration to Marc Jacobs and collaborator with them all, Stephen Sprouse was among the first generation of artists who didn't distinguish between fashion, art and rock. Mostly known for his upscale version of downtown street fashion, Sprouse's artwork extended from design to silkscreen to paper. Before his premature death in 2004, Sprouse had been preparing for a retrospective of his life's work. And this January, five years later, it will be ready for display in a full-blown Sprouse-esque exhibition called "Rock on Mars" -- a futuristic, pop-influenced smorgasbord -- at Deitch Projects.

"Hopefully people saw his fashion designs when people were wearing them out," says Suzanne Geiss, director at Deitch, "but I'm excited to see what he did on clothing extended to total installations. Seeing these things together will be a first." Sprouse often incorporated musicians into his work -- in this exhibition, designed and curated by long-time collaborator Jamie Boud, there will be paintings of a crucified Iggy Pop and a rarely-seen Sid Vicious with his pants down. In conjunction with the exhibition, Rizzoli is set to release a book of Sprouse's work by Roger and Mauricio Padilha, The Stephen Sprouse Book; and Louis Vuitton has created a new line of clothing and accessories based on the original Vuitton-Sprouse 2001 collaboration.

The exhibition runs from Jan. 9 through Feb. 28, 2009, at Deitch Projects, 18 Wooster St., New York.
[Paper Magazine]

The exhibition at Deitch coincides with Louis Vuitton's "boutique on SoHo's Greene Street [being] transformed into a Sprouse destination in time for the collection's arrival." AND IN HONOR OF THAT:

Vuitton will honor the late artist with three events this Thursday [January 8th/today]. The night will kick off with cocktails at the Vuitton boutique on Greene Street, with a simultaneous event at nearby Deitch Projects' Wooster Street Gallery for the opening of the "Rock on Mars" Sprouse retrospective [see above]. Afterwards, Vuitton and Jacobs will host a bash at the Bowery Ballroom, featuring a performance by Sprouse's friend Debbie Harry, followed by DJ Jus Ske. The venue is expected to have a Sprouse feel, with a special graffiti-and-neon decor.

That is one of two big private shows in NYC tonight. The other, as pointed out by someone, is a performance by Cat Power at Union Pool in Brooklyn...

Continue reading "Stephen Sprouse remembered @ Deitch, by Louis Vuitton, Debbie Harry plays Bowery tonight, Cat Power @ Union Pool"

Gothamist interviewed Deborah Harry today....

How do you feel about CBGB being turned into an upscale boutique? [Laughs.] It’s just a building. It’s just a storefront, really, when you get right down to it.

Do you feel though that it’s indicative of broader changes in New York City? Yes, in some ways, but you know when you look at New York City it’s a fast moving, crowded place with layers upon layers of history, with these different buildings and venues that are always changing. You know, I go past the corner of St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue and that used to be The Five Spot, which was an incredible, very famous jazz club. Max’s Kansas City is now a deli. I mean, this is not the first time I’ve seen this happen. It happens all the time in New York.

What’s your favorite place to hear live music in New York these days? There are a lot places I like, it just depends on who’s playing. I go to the Knitting Factory sometimes; that’s always a good place to go. It’s a comfortable, very intimate size and a fun place to go.

See Deborah Harry at Irving Plaza tonight (Nov 8, 2007). Nomi will be there. Look for Deborah Harry hanging out at the Knitting Factory before it turns into a clothing store or deli too.

Gossip have new songs streaming at MySpace. Beth Ditto's other two recent appearances on this site were with New Young Pony Club and as part of this year's Out 100.

All tour dates (Gossip & Debbie), and a clip of Deborah Harry expressing love for her ex-tour-mates Gossip, below....

Continue reading "Deborah Harry, The Gossip, CBGB, Knitting Factory"

Continue reading "Nomi is on Deborah Harry's new album (videos)"

AOL is streaming Deborah Harry's new album Necessary Evil out October 9th. Ticketmaster is selling tickets to her solo show at Irving Plaza (fillmore) on November 8th. Video for "Two Times Blue", below....

Continue reading "see Debbie Harry @ Irving, stream her new album"

Dresden Dolls, The Gossip, Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Deborah Harry...

Continue reading "VIDEOS: behind the scenes on the True Colors Tour"

Blondie performed three songs on the Today show this morning - the second of which was "Heart of Glass" with special guest Lily Allen (who is known for covering that song). Tim was there and got pictures...