Blondie return to the airwaves with “Mother,” and no, it’s not a Danzig cover. The single, off the punk/new wave stalwarts’ first album in eight years, Panic of Girls, is an homage to the 90s-era NYC late night club of the same name. The video is an action-packed affair, with cameos aplenty by New York nightlife types like James Lorinz (Frankenhooker) Johnny Dynell, Chi-Chi Valenti, The Dazzle Dancers, Rob Roth, Barbara Sicuranza, Larry Fessenden, Alan Midgette, The Five Points Band, Guy Furrow, Kitty Boots, Hattie Hathaway, plus Kate from The B-52s! But lest you think Debbie Harry et al. are all hung up on the past and out of touch, they’ve inserted zombies. Because what says 2011 more than zombies? Very little.
BESIDES BEIRUT! That’s right, the band has enlisted not zombies but wandering faux-European minstrel Zach Condon for some hot trumpet action on Blondie’s cover of the Beirut song “Sunday Smile.” Panic features original Blondie members Harry, Chris Stein (guitar), and Clem Burke (drums). Original keyboard dude Jimmy Destri is sitting this one out. The album was produced by Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, Fischerspooner) and Kato Khandwala (Paramore, Papa Roach), and will be available as a special edition “fan pack” (including commemorative magazine!) on June 14 in the UK. The normal ol’ CD will be released in the US come September through Eleven Seven/EMI.
Panic of Girls tracklisting:
01. D-Day
02. What I Heard
03. Mother
04. The End, The End
05. Girlie Girlie
06. Love Doesn’t Frighten Me
07. Words in My Mouth
08. Sunday Smile
09. Wipe Off My Sweat
10. Le Bleu à l’âme
11. China Shoes
12. Horizontal Twist *
13. Mirame *
* fan pack only
• Blondie: http://www.blondie.net
• Eleven Seven: http://www.elevenseven.net
