Blondie will release its first studio album for Epic, “The Curse of Blondie,” Sept. 18 in Australia and Japan and Oct. 6 in Europe. The band’s manager, Allen Kovac, is understood to be in negotiations for a North American deal for the album. The single “Good Boys” will be released internationally Sept. 22.
The new set falls under a deal struck in 2001 between Sony Music International (SMI) and Kovac’s now-defunct Beyond label, after its arrangement with BMG collapsed. SMI’s deal also included rights outside the U.S. for Blondie’s 1999 album “No Exit,” which featured the hit single “Maria,” and the subsequent “Live” set.
Next month, Blondie will begin a tour of Australia and Japan, its first since 1978. A European outing starts in late October. In related news, original keyboardist Jimmy Destri is back on board and will be performing with Blondie during the upcoming gigs.
Here are Blondie’s tour dates:
Aug. 2: Osaka, Japan (Summer Sonic Festival)
Aug. 3: Tokyo (Summer Sonic Festival)
Aug. 7: Brisbane, Australia (Festival Hall)
Aug. 8-10: Sydney (State Theatre)
Aug. 12: Wollongong, Australia (Entertainment Centre)
Aug. 13: Melbourne (Palais Theatre)
Aug. 17: Perth, Australia (Burswood Theatre)
Nov. 5: Paris (Casino)
Nov. 11: Liverpool, England (Academy)
Nov. 12: Leicester, England (De Montfort Hall)
Nov. 14: Cambridge, England (Corn Exchange)
Nov. 15: Birmingham, England (Academy)
Nov. 16: Portsmouth, England (Guildhall)
Nov. 18: Manchester, England (Apollo)
Nov. 19: Glasgow (Academy)
Nov. 21: Nottingham, England (Royal Centre)
Nov. 22: Newcastle, England (City Hall)
Nov. 23: Preston, England (Guildhall)
Nov. 25: London (Shepherd’s Bush Empire)
Nov. 27: Brighton, England (Brighton Centre)
