EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Deborah Harry
Deborah Harry, photo by Joe Gaffney
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DEBORAH HARRY
Interview by Brian Mc Kenna
I was thrilled to get the assignment to speak with rock, rap and video pioneer, and also a Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Debbie Harry about her new album Necessary Evil and her supporting tour. The tour will include a stop in Indy at the Vogue on Saturday, November 24th. When the call came through Ms. Harry was on her tour bus somewhere between Ledyard, CT and Johnson City, NY where she would be playing the 4th of 21 shows in 31 days. Her voice carries a slight morning rasp but she is in very good spirits.
Brian: Good morning.
Debbie: Good morning. How are you?
Brian: Honestly, I’m a little tired and trying to wake up.
Debbie: (laughs) Me too.
Brian: How has the first week of the tour been going?
Debbie: Good.
Brian: Your website says you have 21 shows in 31 days. That’s a lot of shows in a short period of time. How do you prepare yourself for a schedule like that?
Debbie: I don’t know. You have to ease into it I guess. I’m a morning person, always have been. So I’m starting to get my nighttime hours and stuff. (laughs)
Brian: What is the biggest difference between touring in the 70’s and touring in the 2000’s?
Debbie: Better equipment makes it a lot easier. I think the early days were kind of like the wild west in that you were blazing a trail and people didn’t treat you as good as they do now. I mean it’s an established business now, so people treat you better now.
Brian: Do you miss playing the small dirty clubs?
Debbie: Not especially. Sometimes it is fun, but it’s more difficult to get a good sound because of the proclivity to play loud even in a small club to get that sound. It’s just not as acoustically good because of the volume and club size.
Brian: Do you remember the venues beforehand when the management is telling you what is booked?
Debbie: Not really. Usually I will remember them when I walk in and see the club.
Brian: Did you know your backing musicians or was this band put together for you exclusively for this tour?
Debbie: I had done a previous tour with 2 of them. The keyboard player and one other. They have all played together before though and groove well. They are all young and into it.
Brian: Is your current show a retrospective of both your solo career and the Blondie-era stuff?
Debbie: Mostly solo stuff and a few Blondie songs.
Brian: You have a great new album out. Am I right in saying this is your most DIY album project of your career?
Debbie: Yeah.
Brian: Would you do it this way again?
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