Blondie to retire from live performances?: Debbie Harry opens up after death of Clem Burke
With Chris Stein not travelling and Clem Burke no longer with us, will Blondie ever play live again?
by Mayer Nissim
Debbie Harry in concert: now and then. Picture: Alamy
Blondie have been readying their 12th studio album for quite some time, but it seems as though they may never play live again.
The band have performed regularly in recent years, including a full UK and Ireland tour in 2024 but their Belsonic show in Belfast last year might be their last.
"Keeping a rock band together for 50 years was like a marriage, and it's sad that with Clem's passing and without having Chris onstage, I can’t see myself being onstage as Blondie, even though I am the face of Blondie," Debbie said.
"But I'm proud of the music, and I would still like to do music."
Debbie confirmed that the next Blondie album, due for release this autumn, was "in the works", as were a planned Blondie biopic and documentary
"I'm happy to be doing it - it's helping me to collect my thoughts," she said.
"I ran into a wall: the tour ended, Clem died, and wow. What is this space I live in now? I'm curing - I’m doing a cure. And part of that is de-cluttering up my space, which is crowded with that life.
"I need to get some breath, get some air in there. And I want to feel that little spark of creativity, surprise - those things. There's a little tingle of that, and I hope that will be there for me."
