BLONDIE announce new album 'Pollinator' out Friday 5 May | New single 'Fun' out now + touring New Zealand with Cyndi
Lauper in April
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BLONDIE announce new album Pollinator out Friday 5 May | New single 'Fun' out now + touring New Zealand with Cyndi
Lauper in April
BLONDIE
ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM POLLINATOR
OUT FRIDAY 5 MAY
NEW SINGLE ‘FUN’ OUT NOW
+ TOURING NEW ZEALAND WITH
CYNDI LAUPER IN APRIL
Blondie lights up 2017 with the release of their 11th studio album Pollinator through Liberator Music / BMG on May 5th –
an incredible new record and a modern take on the classic, vintage sound of one of the world’s most influential and
legendary bands.
New York’s famed recording studio, The Magic Shop, notably known for David Bowie’s last two albums as well as one by Lou
Reed, was a particularly fitting setting to inspire Blondie’s musical creativity. The last album recorded at The Magic
Shop prior to its closure, Pollinator is a riot of sound and musical colour; its 11 tracks represent the continuation of
a 40+ year musical conversation that Blondie started.
From the new album Pollinator, the lead single ‘Fun’ is available to stream and download now.
AUDIO VIDEO: 'Fun' - Blondie
‘Fun’ co-writer and TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, perhaps more a descendent of Blondie’s New York post-punk legacy,
returns them to a 21st Century Studio 54 with the new single. With Debbie Harry and the band sounding better than ever,
Blondie’s euphoric new track plays like the best party ever thrown, and captures that unique combination of their
enviable cool and sheer melodic joy.
Blondie’s classic writing duo of Chris Stein and Debbie Harry are at the heart of Pollinator’s creation - with ‘Doom Or
Destiny’ and ‘Love Level’, while keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen’s two tracks (‘Already Naked’ and ‘Too Much’) prove the
band continues to evolve almost song by song. Blondie’s founding drummer Clem Burke provides the unmistakably thrilling
propulsion throughout.
Chris Stein’s fascination with modern culture sees him mine a song from Adam Johnson aka An Unkindess (‘Fragments’),
first heard as a sample on the Vancouver based indie artist’s
YouTube movie reviews.
Producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, John Grant, War On Drugs, David Byrne) brought the band into the studio to record
live, capturing the essence of one of the founders of punk rock, a genre that defined his life.
Pop’s uber writers and chart queens Sia (the shimmering synth led ‘Best Day Ever’) and Charli XCX (digital, bubble gum
punk of ‘Gravity’) are fans invited by an admiring Blondie to contribute.
The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, an old friend and admirer writes ‘My Monster’ and joins the band on guitar, while Dev Hynes
(Blood Orange, Lightspeed Champion) cements an enduring partnership with Blondie by channeling shards of ‘Heart Of
Glass’ into the irresistible ‘Long Time’.
Along the way, Joan Jett and Laurie Anderson make studio appearances (‘Doom Or Destiny’) along with The Gregory Brothers
(‘When I Gave Up On You’).
“Their material is part of us and we are part of them”, says frontwoman Debbie Harry of their co-writers, all of whom
were influenced by her band in the first place, “It’s a celebration of recycling!”
For the last four decades, Blondie has become and still remains a true global icon; one whose influence both shaped and
continues to inform the worlds of music, fashion and art. From an irreverent Lower East Side punk outfit to bona fide
international ambassadors of New York cool, Blondie will forever be synonymous with that punk spirit that lives
somewhere in all of us. Their charttopping success, fearless spirit and rare longevity led to an induction into the Rock
‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and more than 40 million albums sold worldwide to date. Sounding more vital and essential
than ever, Pollinator is a Blondie record for 2017 that stands alongside any in their extraordinary career.
World-renowned artist Shepard Fairey has designed the Pollinator artwork which, as well as CD, digital and heavy weight
vinyl, will be available as a limited edition 7” box set.
Blondie are teaming up with Cyndi Lauper for a very special New Zealand tour this April. The two iconic artists will
play arena shows in Christchurch and Auckland this Easter.
BLONDIE & CYNDI LAUPER
April 2017
Tickets on sale now
For full tour information, click here
________________________________________
Sat 15 Apr
Horncastle Arena
Christchurch, NZ (All Ages)
Ph: 0800 842 538
Mon 17 Apr
Vector Arena
Auckland, NZ(All Ages)
Ph: 0800 111 999
ends