Blondie prove they’re still a force to be reckoned with as they perform special London gig
Blondie, Kenwood House, June 26th
dailymail.co.uk
By TAMARA HARDINGHAM-GILL – 30th June 2010
3/5
It’s been twelve years since Blondie toured the UK, but the iconic group were sounding as fresh as ever as they took to the stage at Kenwood House on Saturday.
The 90 minute show kicked off the Kenwood picnic concerts where a host of big names, including Jamie Cullum, will be playing this summer.
And far from the chaos associated with punk-rock, it was a very middle class occasion with revellers taking in the sun on the grass and sipping wine whilst nibbling snacks from their picnic hampers.
The band first launched in 1975 and since then original members Debbie Harry, guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke have been joined by Tommy Kessler on guitar and Matt Katz-Bohen on keyboards. But whatever the line-up, Blondie is all about the extraordinary Harry.
Belting out hits like Rapture, Maria, The Tide is High and One Way Or Another with the energy of a woman half her age, the 64-year-old can still hold her own on stage (although she struggles to hit the high notes as easily), and showed why she is still regarded as one of the most influential female performers of the last few decades.
The up tempo hit Maria was well-received by the very civilised audience, but the highlight of the evening was Heart of Glass which had everyone on their feet.
In the age of botox and cosmetic surgery, Harry looked refreshingly natural with her wild make-up and trademark platinum blonde tresses smoothed into a sleek style.
And her toned down leather jacket and black three-quarter length skirt were perfectly low key for the occasion.
Blondie brought a modern element to the show with a cover of Taio Cruz’s Break Your Heart, but it was their rendition of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, a tribute to the King of Pop on the first anniversary of his death, which showed just how electrifying they can be.
The performance proved that they are still able to put on an impressive show for their loyal fans, and may even pick up some new ones along the way.
