Debbie Harry doesn’t want to perform under the Blondie name without her “original guys”.
Following the death of beloved drummer Clem Burke at the age of 70 in April and with guitarist Chris Stein, 75, no longer touring due to ill health, the 80-year-old frontwoman is “against” using their moniker if it’s just her and some “stand-ins”.
She told NME: “Well, it was Chris, Clem, and myself who were the only original members doing live shows. We just lost Clem, and Chris isn’t playing anymore… but maybe that could change.
“Essentially, I don’t know. I’ve never liked it when there was just one original member performing and everybody else there is a stand-in. [That said,] the guys I’ve been working with until this last tour are terrific. I’ve been working with them for at least five years in most cases, and it’s been a privilege to work with [Sex Pistols’] Glen Matlock, but I just feel like they deserve more of the identity somehow.”
The Heart of Glass singer says the only way she could see herself performing Blondie songs again is under an “umbrella term”, suggesting “Blondie Presents”.
She contemplated: “Maybe if I were to rename whatever version it is using Blondie as an umbrella term… like ‘Blondie Presents’ I’d be tempted. But, I just don’t feel comfortable marching out on stage without my original guys and calling it Blondie. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Although their touring days might be behind them, Blondie are releasing a brand-new studio album, High Noon, which will posthumously feature Clem.
With regards to their future as a recording band, Stein said: “Clem was OK when we did this new record. His situation was very sudden and very fast. It shocked everybody… so it’s hard to say. I don’t know. I’ve been dealing with health bull****, so I don’t know if I’ll get back to making music… hopefully at some point I’ll get back at it.”
Harry admits that she feels the same way about touring without Clem and Chris as she does about making another record without them.
She added: “When it comes to another Blondie album [after this upcoming LP], I think it’s probably the same thing that I said about doing shows, maybe it would be ‘Blondie Presents’ or something like that. I haven’t really ironed it out yet…”