Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry has recalled how she was once surrounded onstage by a group of Hell’s Angels.
Speaking in new interview with The Sunday Times, the star said that the incident culminated in her being dragged off stage by guitarist Chris Stein.
She said: “I was on stage once when a bunch of Hell’s Angels took it over. I kept singing away but all of a sudden Chris yanked me off. Everyone was worried but I wasn’t. The bikers were absolutely charming, they were just so into the music.”
Harry also offered her thoughts on her impending 80th birthday later this year. She turns 80 on July 1.
“I don’t walk around thinking every minute, ‘Oh God, I’m going be 80 – but that’s sort of how I feel,” she added.
“My mother used to say in her head she was 25 and I’m the same. But thinking about it all the time could be your downfall. And I don’t really want the same kind of life I did when I was younger. I’ve done that! That’s the beauty of ageing – you know what it’s about. You have it in your heart and soul and your memory bank … or does that sound like an excuse? Should I go out and party every night?”
The band are currently working on a new album produced by John Congleton. They shared their 11th and most recent studio record, ‘Pollinator’, back in 2017. Stein had previously told fans to expect a new album at some point this year.
Last month, the guitarist also posted a black-and-white photograph of Congleton relaxing in a chair with his feet up on a mixing desk with Harry standing behind him.
“With John Congleton,” Stein captioned the picture. “New Blondie record next year.”
In 2022, it was revealed that Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock would be contributing to Blondie’s next album. He has also been performing as part of the band’s live shows in recent years, including their set at Glastonbury 2023.
Speaking to NME recently about the ‘Pollinator’ follow-up, Matlock gave an update on where the project was at when he recorded his parts. “It was sounding good. It was all kind of heavy, a bit atonal,” he explained.
“Some of the other guys in the band are younger than me and they try and be a bit more modern. I just think you should get the song across. But I’ve not heard the finished thing with Debbie [Harry]’s vocals and stuff. It’s gonna be exciting listening to it.”
Harry told NME in 2021 that Blondie were “in the process of setting up a period of time to lay down some tracks” for another record. “We’re already looking at 10-12 songs, but it feels too early to talk about it,” she said at the time.
The singer also told us that Blondie’s 12th album would be more band-focused, rather than collaborative like its predecessor (save for perhaps another tune by Johnny Marr, Harry previously informed NME).
