Blondie legend swings back into vogue

DEBBIE HARRY, the face of the Seventies pop group Blondie, sang for a jazz band at the Barbican in London last night after confirming that her pop comeback plans were in full swing.

Blondie, who split up nearly two decades ago after a succession of smash hits in Britain including "Hanging on the Telephone" and "Heart of Glass", have been working on a new album and are also planning a world tour.

Ms Harry, 53, who has been touring Britain this week with the Jazz Passengers, said she was excited about resurrecting her Blondie career. She said: "I think it's terrific. I think it's really great music. It's just seemed to work out that way. It's just fortunate I suppose."

The group, who are preparing the ironically-titled album No Exit for release this autumn, first hit the limelight in1976 and have sold more than 40 million albums.

Ms Harry admitted it would be hard to recreate her former glories when her platinum blonde hair helped to make her a sex symbol.

She said: "I'm not going to make any shot at being the latest and the hottest pop star," adding: "It's flattering that even they should remember Blondie."

The singer, who has reunited with other band members Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri and her former boyfriend Chris Stein, said that a reunion had once seemed like an impossible prospect. She said: "I think there was probably a time in about 1985 or 86 when I thought I would just never ever have to think about those songs, but musically I think that I love them."

Blondie are following in the footsteps of pop icons like the Sex Pistols, the Eagles and Robert Plant who have all tried to recapture their former success.

Members of the band planned to make their new album with EMI, but changed to another label because they wanted to record new tracks rather than just re-release their old hits.

The popularity of songs such as "Heart Of Glass" and "Atomic" in nightclubs has already sparked a Blondie revival in this country.Chris Stein is behind the revival.

Unfavourable record contracts in the past meant that the group never became as wealthy as their fame warranted.