On December 9th 1999, Deborah took part in a live Cyber Chat organised by the Miami Herald, a transcript of the chat is below - my questions are the ones in purple.
Q: In
Rollingstone's 'End of Year' issue Blondie's No Exit album was
touted as one of the most important musical experiences of 1999.
It suggests that Blondie should stay together and keep a good
thing going. What are your plan's?
A: We're gonna make another record. Looking forward to get back
in the studio. We've been out there playing and enjoy making
records and that's what we're gonna do. As soon as the New Year
rolls around, we're gonna do just that.
Q: You are
respected as a musician, artist and actress. How do you approach
each, creatively, and are there similarities in these seemingly
different pursuits?
A: Yes, I think all your experiences add up to a sense of
understanding and self-knowledge, so as a performer that's very
important, also as an actress and a writer. They do help each
other, and their techniques (strict performing techniques) are
different. In the whole process, they help each other.
Q: It seems
you have been everywhere this year. What do you do to relax?
A: Nothing! I hang out with my friends, hit the night life,
clubs. Go to the movies. Mostly, hang with friends. Once in a
while, I get to do something exotic like go to an opening. I love
the beach, it's really heavenly for me.
Q: If you tour again where would you like to go?
A: I think everyone in the band would like to tour the States
some more. We'd also like to go to the Far East, to Japan. We
haven't been there for years. Possibly, even to India, we've
never been there. It's tantalizing to go places you've never
been. Mexico and South America as well.
Q: Do you
still talk to Iggy Pop?
A: I haven't had the occasion to talk to him recently, but yes,
of course. I love Iggy. And I think most recently I saw him at a
show he did at Roseland. He's one of my all-time favorites. I did
catch the European Music Awards on TV. I haven't seen him live in
a while.
Q: Will
Craig Kilborne actually be coming to the New Year's Eve show in
Miami?
A: You'll have to ask Craig. I don't have a clue! It'd be fun if
he did, though. He's a funny guy... maybe I can get him to sing.
On the show I was on, he sang some songs from Annie. He has
potential.
Q: Debbie, I
loved your work with the Jazz Passengers, do you plan to work
with them again in the future?
A: Yes, I'd love to. In fact, Roy Nathanson has done a solo album
and I have a song that I wrote the lyrics for. I also sang it.
There will be different performers on the record, including Elvis
Costello. It tells a story in music.
Q: Will you
be taking on any acting projects in the near future?
A: Yes, I hope so. I'm always looking. Really want to do
something in the next couple of months. Looking forward to that.
Q: Hi
Debbie, happy holidays! Which dream of yours do you most want to
come true now?
A: I don't know. Umm... I don't know if I have a big dream right
now. I feel very fortunate, very lucky to have Blondie back
together and doing great music with Blondie. A lot of my earlier
dreams have come true. At this point, I feel lucky and very
thankful.
Q: You must
miss little Chi Chi while you're touring. Do you have any other
pets at the moment?
A: Yeah, I've had a cat named Peach for a long time. She's about
two or three months older than ChiChi. She's always there in the
background, skulking around. She's a big black, white and orange
cat, a Calico cat.
Q: What is
the song you love to sing the most?
A: Well, right now I'm really enjoying singing Nightwind Scent
from the new album. Also the live version of Nothing Is Real But
the Girl. We have a nice live arrangement of that one. Another
one that came out good is The Dream's Lost on Me. We do a nice
unplugged version of that one and it's really pretty.
Q: Will you
make a rap album with Puff Daddy?
A: Sure. Puff Daddy hasn't said anything about it yet. But I
certainly would be interested.
Q: Blondie
Live just came out and it is awesome. Do you feel that you are a
better live artist now?
A: Yeah, I think we've come together as a band. It's about a
band, we have more musicianship in the band now, and we have a
lot more experience. With our kind of music(never really simple
and straightforward), we're better prepared to bring it out live.
Q: Meeting
you recently was a great thrill for me, is there anybody that you
would really love to meet?
A: Hmmm... David Lynch. The other week I was in L.A. and I went
to a birthday party for Lisa Marie. I saw Martin Landau and the
actress Barbara Steele, from early horror films. It's a treat to
meet people you've always admired.
Q: Debbie,
do you have a computer at home, ever eavesdrop on DHBIS (fan mail
list)?
A: I have a computer and about 5 or 6 years ago I was into email,
but it became such a consuming activity that I don't do it
anymore. So I stopped.
Q: Does it
annoy you when people call you "Blondie"?
A: Not at all. It's my great honor to be that.
Q: What kind
of music are you listening to these days?
A: Just anything really, I don't have a list, I'm pretty open. I
got a CD out in San Francisco, a compilation of different tribal
instruments. Very interesting. I just hop around and surf, some
jazz things I love, rock things. I was listening to Russian folk
songs the other day, they helped inspire Stravinsky. I listen to
everything. I like Beck's new thing. And the soundtrack from
Fight Club.
Q: Do you
miss the smaller more intimate places you played during the solo
years?
A: We have played some of those joints with Blondie, it's always
great, a lot of fun. You're right there, it's really cool and
very exciting. Sometimes it's difficult technically. We have a
full, big sound and it's hard to pull back after playing large
venues.
Q: What is
your favourite horror film?
A: Well, hmmm... I like Hellraiser and I liked Sixth Sense.
Something Pasolini did where people get locked into a house, it's
a really great movie but I don't remember the title. It's scary
and mean.
Q: Are you
superstitious, do anything special before shows for good luck?
A: Umm... no, I don't. I have a technical regime that I prepare.
I'm very methodical about my preparation. I don't indulge myself
in that. I like the idea of approaching it from a technical
point. Approaching it from superstitions, I would get very
nervous.
Q: What
drink do you order in a pub?
A: Well, let's see. I guess this is coming from the UK. If I was
in a good pub, I'd order lager and lime. In New York, I'd order a
champagne.
Q: One of my
favorite moments in TV history was you on Craig Kilborn singing a
line from Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. Have you ever thought
about doing a record of cover songs?
A: Sure, I would try to choose something a little more obscure,
but of course I'd love to do covers. Have a great holiday
everyone. Lots of love from me and happy New Year.
