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Concrete Blonde was an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in the summer of 2010.
BiographySinger-songwriter/bassist Johnette Napolitano formed the band Dream 6 with guitarist James Mankey in Los Angeles in 1982, releasing an eponymous EP in France on the Happy Hermit label in 1983. When they signed with I.R.S. Records in 1986, labelmate Michael Stipe suggested the name Concrete Blonde, describing the contrast between their hard rock music and introspective lyrics. A "Concrete Blonde" is also a derogatory term for the heavily hair-sprayed, permed and big haired appearance adopted by "Sunset Strip Metal" bands, such as Poison and Ratt. During an MTV interview, Napolitano can also be quoted as saying that the name Concrete Blonde is just "two words that sound good together." They were joined by drummer Harry Rushakoff on their eponymous debut album. Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson replaced Rushakoff on Bloodletting and several tracks on Mexican Moon, while Rushakoff was in treatment for drug addiction. Rushakoff rejoined the band to record 2002's Group Therapy, but was kicked out of the band for failing to show up for shows.Citation needed
Concrete Blonde was featured prominently in the film The Hidden (1987). Clarence Felder's character Lt. John Masterson rocks out to Concrete Blonde after being taken over by the alien.
Concrete Blonde's "Your Haunted Head" was also used in Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 in 1986
. When L.G. Returns to the Radio station he pulls up listening to it on the radio then while walking to the staircase he sings "Ghosts Inside Your Haunted Head!"
Their most commercially successful album was Bloodletting (1990), fueled by the top 20 radio hit "Joey," which in turn inspired Sugarland's 2009 single of the same name. The band broke up in 1993, but reunited in 1997, and again in 2001, releasing the albums Group Therapy (2002) and Mojave (2004). On June 5, 2006, Napolitano announced in a MySpace blog entry that the band has officially retired.Citation needed
In 2007, Napolitano performed the
On November 25, 2008, "Long Time Ago" was used during the final credits during the series finale, Season 7 of The Shield.
On July 13, 2010, Shout! Factory released a remastered 20th anniversary edition of Bloodletting, compiled without blessings, input, or involvement from the band, it features six bonus tracks: "I Want You," "Little Wing," the French extended version of "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)," and live versions of "Roses Grow," "The Sky Is A Poisonous Garden," and "Tomorrow, Wendy." An error in the packaging of the re-release uses early non-album period photos featuring original drummer Harry Rushakoff, who had been replaced the night before the first studio session for "Bloodletting" by Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson. The essay included in the booklet also gives incorrect release dates for the band's previous albums.
Current drummer Gabriel Ramirez is featured on "Live in Brazil," "Mojave," and the CD single "The Real Thing," and is touring with the band during the summer of 2010 on the "20 Years of Bloodletting: "The Vampires Rise" North American tour and on select international dates through the rest of the year.
DiscographyAlbums- Concrete Blonde (1986)
- Free (1989)
- Bloodletting (1990)
- Walking in London (1992)
- Mexican Moon (1993)
- Still in Hollywood (1994) - a compilation of live recordings and previously unreleased material
- Recollection: The Best of Concrete Blonde (1996)
- Concrete Blonde y Los Illegals (1997) - collaboration with a Los Angeles-based Chicano punk band
- Classic Masters (2002)
- Group Therapy (2002)
- Live in Brazil 2002 (2003) - double live album
- Mojave (2004)
- The Essential (2005)
- Bloodletting: 20th Anniversary Edition (2010) - with six bonus tracks
Chart singlesRelated Albums- Dream 6 - Dream 6 (1983) - reissued in 2003, Pre-Concrete Blonde group featuring Johnette Napolitano and Jim Mankey
- The song "Everybody Knows," written by Leonard Cohen and performed by Concrete Blonde, originally released on Pump Up The Volume : Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1990) and re-released on Recollection: The Best of Concrete Blonde (1996) as well as on Still in Hollywood (1994)
- Andy Prieboy - ...Upon My Wicked Son (1990) - Johnnette sings backing vocals to Andy's lead on "Tomorrow, Wendy"
- Contributed the song "Endless Sleep" to the compilation Fast Track to Nowhere (1994).
- Vowel Movement - Vowel Movement (1995) - Johnette Napolitano and Holly Vincent
- Pretty & Twisted - Pretty & Twisted (1995) - Johnette Napolitano and Marc Moreland of Wall of Voodoo
- Johnette Napolitano - No Talking, Just Head (1996) - Lead Singer for The Heads, re-formed Talking Heads project with Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth
- Johnette Napolitano - Sound Of A Woman, (1998) - unreleased solo album
- Johnette Napolitano - Sketchbook "Arms to Heaven" (2002)
- James Mankey - Jam (2002)
- Catfish Scar
- Johnette Napolitano - Sketchbook 2 (2006)
Other work- Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick was in the video for "Someday?".
Copyright Citations
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