Deborah Harry and Rob Roth Talk About Music, Their Favorite Reads and Collaboration.

Well, I admit I was feeling a bit nervous about meeting the legend that is Deborah Harry, but she put me at ease right away by admiring my crappy, homemade tattoos.  You can tell her and Rob Roth are good friends by the way they talk to and about each other.  They were both so charming and polite that it wasn't scary at all.

AA:  Since I write for a music blog and I think about and listen to music a lot, my most obvious question is what are you listening to lately?

DH:  That’s the worst question for me.  Because I listen to a lot of music but I don’t catalogue it and remember the artists’ names.  I’ve been listening to a lot of Brazilian music.

RR:  Well, you’ve always been into that, that South American sound. 

DH:  Yeah I really like that.  And I listen to a lot of the classics. 

RR:  And you listen to a lot of jazz.  You turned me on to a lot of jazz back in the day.

DH:  And you know Harris, Calvin Harris.  I like his new album.  And I listen to Amy Winehouse and things like that occasionally. But when I’m at home, I don’t really like to listen to music, especially if I’m working on creating something.

AA:  Oh, like to have a blank slate to create your own songs. 

DH: Yeah, I like to have room to create my own music.  But I like going to live shows.  I like to have the full experience.  I just missed Courtney [Love], because I was out of town.  I’m going to see Justin [Timberlake] next week.

Read more about Deborah and Rob's thoughts on The Dresden Dolls, their favorite books and who they like to work with.

AA: You recently toured with True Color and Cyndi Lauper.  What was that like? What’s Cyndi like?

DH:  Cyndi’s just like she is on stage.  She’s amazing. 

AA:  I really like Beth Ditto and The Gossip and I’m so glad they’re really getting big now.

RR:  Oh my god, I love her.  I went to Radio City to go see Deb and when I walked in they were playing and just totally grabbed me, totally hooked my attention.

DH:  Yeah, they’re such an interesting trio.  I wonder how they all met, now I bet that’s a great story.

AA:  Yeah, maybe I’ll be able to ask them about it someday. 

DH:  You know all the bands were amazing.  It was such a wide array of people and talent.  I really loved The Dresden Dolls.  They’re so powerful and strong.  They really are that way in person too.

RR:  And that guy’s quite good looking.

AA:    Well you did True Color and I’ve noticed that you do a lot of activist, social justice type performances and I think that’s really admirable.  And I was wondering why gay rights specifically appealed to you. 

DH:  I guess it’s really a two way street. They’ve always supported me.  I’m interested in human rights and not so conservative things.  But I do lots of different things.  I performed at an ACLU function recently.

RR:  And you did an ad for them.

DH:  Yeah and since I don’t write a lot of political lyrics.  I write things that are more entertaining and fun and so the only way to contribute is to perform and appearances and that sort of thing.  And I feel like it is definitely my responsibility to do that.  To use my voice for that.

AA:  Do you write things besides lyrics?

DH:  Yeah I’ve been trying to work on some short stories, but I’m not so motivated.  You know writing lyrics is like writing a puzzle, you have to put all these little pieces together.  Stories, I guess it might be like that too, but I haven’t found the way to do it like that yet. 

RR:  Oh she’s really well-read too.  She’s the most well-read person I know, always reading something.

AA:  Well that was my next question.  Any good books lately?

DH:  Well I read a new Murakami book. And I didn’t like it as much as some of his older stuff.

AA:  Like Wind-Up Bird Chronicles. 

DH:  Yeah that was amazing.  But this one I wasn’t as enthralled with.  But what I’m reading right now is Thomas Wolfe – The Web and the Rock and it’s an older book.  It’s set in New York and it’s just fascinating.

RR:  What time period?

DH:  The early 1900’s.  It’s just so interesting to read about the city back then.

RR:  I’m reading The Purple Cloud right now for a performance piece we’re doing over in Rome and it’s just amazing.  It’s like this purple cloud comes and takes everyone away, like in 28 Days Later when there’s just like no one and there’s this purple stuff everywhere.  It’s not any of the usual stuff I’m into like cyberpunk or whatever but the language is just so rich. 

AA:  So I saw the new video, Rob and those snaky vines seem totally creepy but also erotic at the same time.

RR:  Well that’s my whole thing.   I like to blend those things and I’m interested in the dark side of things, especially when you’re working with someone who’s so beautiful and radiant.  Then, to contrast that with the darkness, is really compelling.  I was always a painter and I still create things that way and it’s not such a literal interpretation.

DH:  Yeah, that’s all been done anyways.  It’s boring.  Like every other video on.  Anyhow, I really like it and I hope people like it. 

AA:  Deborah, you’ve worked with so many amazing people and I was wondering if any of those experiences stand out as particularly remarkable.

DH:  Well I think I’ve been really lucky.  You know one that stands out would be H.R. Giger.  You know we worked on art and videos together and he’s really into that dark side of things and hasn’t gotten credited for a lot of his work.  [Giger did the cover for Koo Koo and directed a video for the same album where he painted directly on to Deborah’s skin.]  You know the alien in those movies and all that stuff.  He created this whole amazing world and they just use what they want and never credit him or pay him for any of it.  Of course he did get an Academy Award for it.

RR:  It’s always like that with great artists. And you’ve worked with some of my favorites: Warhol and Cronenberg.

DH:  Well and I worked with Chris [Stein of Blondie] for a really long time.  I mean that was a really long lasting collaboration that produced some amazing stuff.  And of course Rob and I have done a few things together now and you know sometimes you get to a point with people where you’re at loggerheads and you can’t go any further.  But Rob and I have done really well.

RR:  Well we’re friends first and foremost.  And we have a like-mindedness.  We have the whole New York thing, it’s not about pretentions.

AA:  Well here’s to friendship first.  Thanks to both of you for taking the time to talk to me.  I really appreciate it.

Comments

[Kris]

That's awesome.

[Victor A]

Great interview, hope to see this aired.

[kim]

That was a great interview! I cant wait for Debbie's Cd to come out! I already Pre-Ordered a copy. Also i LOVE the video for "Two Times Blue" and the song "If I Had You".

[Kenny]

I love the video for "Two Times Blue"! It's like a beautiful nightmare...scarily pretty.The song is great and the album is going to be regarded as her best solo work ever.

[hank]

I love this new song and video, TWO TIMES BLUE. Amazing! Debbie Harry is a living legend ,and such a normal person to. I will pick up her new CD, Can't wait!!!!

[Jeff Delong]

Debbie you rock our world. Love the song and video of "Two Times Blues". A true legend.

[Amy-Ellen]

OMG!I MET DEBBIE HARRY TODAY!IN HMV SIGNING!SHE IS LOVELY!SHE SIGNED MY TWO VYNALS!AND MY CD!=]
DEBBIE ROX!GIRL POWER!=] XXXXXXXXXXXXXX PEACE -AMY-

[No One]

Deborah Harry is STILL the most beautiful woman in the world...not to mention the fact that her voice is the most precious sounding instrument ever.

[Tim]

you are amazing Debbie. will you have a new CD soon? Your latest is the best, but, you have more to sing and i look forward to more. More more more! You realy set the standard for music ability and i will always remember you. You bring out of me what i am unable to do on my own. Thank you, Tim