Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry has reflected on turning 80 years old later this year and talked about the “beauty of ageing”.
The singer-songwriter will hit the milestone age on July 1, 2025. During a new interview with The Times, Harry explained: “I don’t walk around thinking every minute, ‘Oh God, I’m going be 80’ – but that’s sort of how I feel.”
READ MORE: Blondie on their historic Havana trip: “It could have been a disaster”
She continued: “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?”
Harry also opened up about the prospect of dating at the age of 79. When asked whether she was currently in a relationship, she responded: “No! God forbid! I’m terrified. No, I’m kidding, but I don’t think [being in a relationship] is possible. Do you?”
The singer, who was once in a relationship with Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, explained that she wasn’t “in the right position to be dating online”, before being told about the celebrity dating app Raya.
Debbie Harry performs live with Blondie. CREDIT: Kate Green/Getty
“OK, OK, I’ll do it!” Harry replied. “And I’m going to get back in touch and let you know how it went. I’m definitely not so adventurous as I was, but I’m still curious. I like the way the world spins.”
Additionally, Harry revealed that “Home Depot is where I do all my flirting”, adding: “There are some big, strong men there.” She remembered: “I found somebody there I thought was really sexy. He was working in the garden department. But he was busy.
“We just sort of looked at each other and did that [look].”
Elsewhere in the interview, the frontwoman recalled how she was once surrounded onstage by a group of Hell’s Angels.
Blondie are due to release a new album at some point in 2025, helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, The War On Drugs). It’ll follow on from 2017’s ‘Pollinator’.
In 2022, it was revealed that Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock would be contributing to Blondie’s next studio record. 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 last November 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.”
When asked when fans could expect to hear the record, he responded: “I think it’s gonna be early in the new year, but I don’t wanna say too much because I’m just the bass player in Blondie and I’m not 100 per cent sure.”
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 album. “We’re already looking at 10-12 songs, but it feels too early to talk about it,” she said at the time.
The post Blondie’s Debbie Harry on turning 80 this year and “beauty of ageing” appeared first on NME.
