Concrete Blonde

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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. They are best known for the poignant songwriting and vocals of Johnette Napolitano.

Biography

Singer-songwriter/bassist 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. 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]} He was replaced by Gabriel Ramirez.

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.

Their most commercially successful album was Bloodletting (1990), fueled by the top 40 radio hit "Joey". The band broke up in 1993, but reunited 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]} From the Concrete Blonde website, there is the following open message: "Thanks to everyone who heard and believed in the music. Music lives on. Keep listening. Keep believing, keep dreaming. Like a ripple, the music moves and travels and finds you. Drive to the music, Make love to the music, cry to the music. That's why we made it. Long after we're gone the music will still be there. Thanks to everyone who helped us bring the music to you & thanks to every face and every heart in every audience all over the world."

In 2007, Napolitano performed the main vocals on the score of the new Australian film West written and directed by Daniel Krige. She also sings the title song, "Falling in Love". West had its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, February the 13th by the IMDb. According to SXSW music webpage, she also supplied music for another Australian movie titled Candy and for two other films as well, besides touring the United States to promote her solo work entitled Scarred in an acoustical set featuring the Concrete Blonde classics.

On November 25, 2008, "Long Time Ago" was used during the final credits during the series finale, Season 7 of The Shield.

Discography

Albums

• 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)

Chart singles

Related 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)
• 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?".

References

• Huey, Steve. "Concrete Blonde" Allmusic Guide. Retrieved on May 20, 2007.
• Golde, Kimberlye (2002). "Almost Famous" San Francisco Herald. Retrieved on May 20, 2007

See also

• Johnette Napolitano
• James Mankey

External links

• Concrete Blonde Official Website
• Johnette Napolitano
• History of Concrete Blonde w/ Johnette Napolitano