2019-12-01_Red_UK

Red woman

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December 2019 | REDONLINE.CO.UK

taken some good advice from David Bowie in the 1980s,

which she recounts in her book: ‘Wear a hood, drop your

shoulders, and no one will notice you.’ She adds, ‘I don’t

know how Lady Gaga or J. Lo or Beyoncé can live without

being able to walk

down the street

anonymously. But

when people do

notice you, most

people are not

really obnoxious.

They say hello

or “Aren’t you

so-and-so?” or

they’re sweet, and

that’s that. And

everybody’s sort

of in their own sort of crazy world, anyway.’ Harry hasn’t

changed much, she says, and you believe her, although

that’s impressive given how long she’s been successful.

After a 17-year break, Blondie’s 1999 comeback single,

Maria, became a UK number one,

and a smash hit across Europe when

she was 61. Blondie’s latest studio

album – 2017’s Pollinator, their

11th – got to number four, just before

her 72nd birthday. As someone who

first experienced early pop and rock

‘n’ roll at local dances in the early

1960s (‘That was a great lot of fun’),

Harry loves how pop is now for all

ages: ‘I was in the right place at the

right time,’ she says.

But simple things have always

grounded Harry, like her morning

routine when she’s not touring, which

she details adorably in her book.

Letting her beloved dogs out to pee

first: ‘I get those dogs out there pretty

damn quick... I do miss my doggies

when I am on the road.’ Then her

favourite coffee: ‘Half decaf, half

regular... nothing too jagged to start

the day.’ Then she goes back to bed

with her coffee and the dogs, and

spends time with a book; she’s loved

reading since she was little. ‘This

first hour is supremely precious to

me,’ she writes. ‘It lights me up, and

I’ll do what it takes to protect that

time and make it happen.’ When she’s

asked what the most important thing

is in her life today, her answer is also

about self-care, and similarly inspirational: ‘The most

important thing’s being creative and wanting to carry on.

I’m so looking forward to writing, and to recording either

another solo project or a Blondie project right now. And

we had a tour this summer with Elvis

Costello, and I was really sad when

it was over. I wanted to do more!’

She puts Blondie’s continued success

down to the fans recognising how

much they enjoy playing. ‘That’s why

audiences are turned on by us: they

can feel that excitement. That’s when

music really works. That’s when

everything works.’

She still goes to gigs (‘although not

every night like I did, for obvious

reasons’). She’s also looking forward

to Christmas this year and will be

spending it with friends, exchanging

presents, in the city, as she always

does. Her favourite Christmas song

is The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New

York, she adds. ‘It’s just a great season

to see friends and to give gifts, and,

I don’t know, have a few drinks here

and there...’ Her voice sparkles with

light mischief. You’d want her to be

your secret Santa, for sure.

Finally, for someone who doesn’t

put much stock in looking back, how

did she find having to reminisce for

her memoir? ‘It’s a devilish process

walking down memory lane but,

overall, I’m glad I did it,’ she says,

firmly, conclusively. ‘But now I’m

ready to work out what’s next.’

Debbie Harry’s

favourite female

musicians in 2019

HALSEY^

’She brings together rap, rock and

great melodies. I was in the video for

her recent single, Nightmare, and

I was really impressed with the

cleverness of its lyrics. She’s also

full of surprises and very,

very determined.’

ALDOUS HARDING^

’She’s a musician from New Zealand.

I just think she’s incredible – and very

unusual. I fell in love with her song

The Barrel. The video is beautiful, too.’

BILLIE EILISH^

’She’s so sweet and has a great voice.

Her music embodies a jazz element,

almost – these strange little phrasings

and chord changes that she makes

completely her own.’

CHAI^

‘They’re a Japanese group, four girls,

and they’re wonderful. So cute

too, and so talented, my God! They

play all their instruments, and they’re

a proper band. You know, it’s

always a pleasure to discover

something new. That’s why many

of us started listening to music.’

Picture this (from left): Harry’s signature

style is unmistakable; with Blondie bandmates

in LA in 1977; Harry and Chris Stein

F a c e It b y D e b b i e H a r r y
PH (HarperCollins, £20) is out now

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