Debbie Harry On The Scent Of Rock’n’Roll

vogue.co.uk – 20th February 2015

By Lisa Niven

DEBBIE HARRY has teamed up with Paco Rabanne to front its new limited-edition Black XS Be A Legend fragrance, joining fellow rock’n’roller Iggy Pop, who is representing the male version of the scent. But far from just another ad campaign, the Blondie frontwoman sees the project as something of a perfect reunion.

“I like the creativity of the Black XS campaign, and most of all the association with Iggy… He was so much a part of [Blondie’s] ongoing and becoming. He gave us our first real tour: it was just a great experience. He and David Bowie were teaming up at that point. David was in the background playing keyboards and Iggy was in front,” she revealed. “Bands were very awful to each other at that time. So to have this experience… It was really great and smart.”

Photographed by Jonas Ackerlund, the campaign sees the pair pose in sober tuxedos, holding oversized factice bottles of the scents. The fragrance itself, created by nose Émilie Coppermann, combines heady patchouli and powerful oud with the more feminine back vanilla and hellebore rose in an olfactory representation of the rock’n’roll attitude.

But what is a true, rock’n’roll attitude?

“When you are starting out, you have to stamp your feet, pull your hair, grab people’s attention, and demand attention. There are lots of ways to do that: to be risqué, naughty, bad or to be wild, to express some kind of freedom, some excitement and a sense of adventure, especially in rock’n’roll. I think it is very important,” Harry said. “And then, with some of that acceptance, comes a bit of responsibility, because it is a two-way street so, you have to give back.”

Paco Rabanne Black XS Be a Legend for Her and for Him are available nationwide now.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/article/debbie-harry-and-iggy-pop-for-paco-rabanne-black-xs