Debbie Harry has opened up about undergoing cosmetic surgery, saying that it “felt necessary” for her career.
The Blondie frontwoman, who turned 80 on Tuesday (July 1), was asked whether she had ever felt any “pressure” to look good during a new interview with Vanity Fair.
“It’s always been a tool for me. It’s not like I started having cosmetic surgery as a kid in school – I think nowadays a lot of girls are getting cosmetic surgery when they’re 10, 11 years old,” she responded.
“God bless if it improves their lives and they feel happy. But as far as me having cosmetic surgery, it made me feel better about myself. Maybe it made me feel happy, or more confident.”
Harry continued, acknowledging the nature of being a woman in music, and how changing her appearance could give her an advantage
“It was just something that I felt necessary at the time,” she explained.
“I wanted to work, and so much of women being attractive, and being a selling point, is clearly showbiz. If you’re going to be in the business, be in it.”
At the start of this year, Harry reflected on the “beauty of ageing” as she looked ahead to her 80th birthday. She also discussed the prospect of dating as an older woman, saying: “I don’t think [being in a relationship] is possible. Do you?”
Blondie are expected to release a new album at some point in 2025, helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, The War On Drugs). It’ll follow on from 2017’s ‘Pollinator’.
In April, the band’s drummer Clem Burke died following “a private battle with cancer”. He was 70 years old.
It was revealed in 2022 that Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock would be contributing to Blondie’s next full-length record. He has also been performing as part of the group’s live shows in recent years, including their set at Glastonbury 2023.
Speaking to NME late last year about the ‘Pollinator’ follow-up, Matlock gave an update on where the project was at when he recorded his parts. “It was sounding good. It was all kind of heavy, a bit atonal,” he said.
“Some of the other guys in the band are younger than me and they try and be a bit more modern. I just think you should get the song across. But I’ve not heard the finished thing with Debbie [Harry]’s vocals and stuff. It’s gonna be exciting listening to it.”
When asked when fans could expect to hear the record, he responded: “I think it’s gonna be early in the new year, but I don’t wanna say too much because I’m just the bass player in Blondie and I’m not 100 per cent sure.”
Harry told NME in 2021 that Blondie were “in the process of setting up a period of time to lay down some tracks” for another LP. “We’re already looking at 10-12 songs, but it feels too early to talk about it,” she explained at the time.
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