Concrete Blonde 945631 223845139 2008-07-06T03:09:03Z 69.134.39.35 {{cleanup|date=June 2007}} '''Concrete Blonde''' is an [[alternative rock]] band based in the [[United States|United States of America]]. They were initially active from the early 1980s to 1995, and reunited in 2001. 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 Records|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 (musician)|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 one show.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} He was replaced by [[Gabriel Ramirez]]. 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.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}From the Concrete Blonde own site there is the following open message: Thanks to everyone who heard and believed in the music. Music Lives on. Concrete Blonde was one of the greatest band in Rock and Roll. 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 (2007 film)|West]] written and directed by [[Daniel Krige]]. She also sings the title song, "Falling in Love". [[West (2007 film)|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 Candy and for two other films as well, besides touring the United States to promote her solo work entitled Scarred in a acoustical set featuring the Concrete Blonde classics. ==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''[[Concrete Blonde (album)|Concrete Blonde]]'' (1986) * ''[[Free (Concrete Blonde album)|Free]]'' (1989) * ''[[Bloodletting (album)|Bloodletting]]'' (1990) * ''[[Walking in London (album)|Walking in London]]'' (1992) * ''[[Mexican Moon]]'' (1993) * ''[[Still in Hollywood]]'' (1994) - a [[compilation album|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 (album)|Group Therapy]]'' (2002) * ''[[Live in Brazil 2002]]'' (2003) - double live album * ''[[Mojave (album)|Mojave]]'' (2004) * [[The Essential]] (2005) ===Singles=== * "Still in Hollywood" (1986) - 12" vinyl single # Still In Hollywood # Still In Hollywood [Edit] * "True" (1986) - vinyl-only # True # True II * "Dance Along The Edge" [12"] * "Happy Birthday" (1989) - UK single # Happy Birthday # Run,Run,Run * "God is a Bullet" (1989) # God Is A Bullet # Free # Little Wing * "Caroline" (1990) # Caroline [Edit] # Roses Grow [Live] # Tomorrow, Wendy [Live] # The Sky Is a Poisonous Garden [Live] # Little Wing * "Joey" (1990) # Joey # I Want You * "Everybody Knows IRS US promo yellow CD (1990) # Everybody Knows * "Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man" (1992) # Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man # Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) [Extended Version] # Everybody Knows # The Ship Song * "Someday" (1992) - two part CD single # Someday # Happy Birthday # Joey # Still In Hollywood # Probably Will # 100 Games Of Solitaire # Les Coeurs Jumeaux * "Walking in London" (1992) # Walking in London # God Is a Bullet [Live] # Free # 100 Games of Solitaire * "New Songs & Resurrections " # heal it up # walking in london # mexican moon # god is a bullet # jenny i read # true *"Heal it Up" (1993) * "Mexican Moon" (1994) # Mexican Moon # Bajo La Luna Mexicana # Mandocello # Castles Made Of Sand [Live] # Shout [Live] * "Jonestown" (1994) - vinyl-only, includes uncensored version not available on Album # Jonestown # Jonestown (Jim Jones edit) # Simple Twist of Fate * "Roxy" (2002) # Roxy [Radio Edit] # The God In You * "The Real Thing" ===Related Albums=== * Dream 6 - ''Dream 6'' (1983) - reissued in 2003, Pre-Concrete Blonde group featuring Johnette Napolitano and Jim Mankey * Johnette Napolitano and [[Holly Vincent]] - ''Vowel Movement'' 1995) * 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 (album)|Sound Of A Woman]]'', (1998) - unreleased solo album * Johnette Napolitano - ''Sketchbook'' (2002) * James Mankey - ''Jam'' (2002) * Catfish Scar * Johnette Napolitano - ''Sketchbook 2'' (2006) * Andy Prieboy - [[...Upon My Wicked Son]] (1990) - Johnnette sings backing vocals to Andy's lead on ''Tomorrow, Wendy'' Contributed the song "Endless Sleep" for the Showtime anthology series "Fast Track To Nowhere". ==References== *Huey, Steve. "[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3iftxqw5ldte~T1 Concrete Blonde]" ''Allmusic Guide''. Retrieved on [[May 20]], [[2007]]. *Golde, Kimberlye (2002). "[http://www.sfherald.com/columnists/gold/gold-04-02.html Almost Famous]" ''San Francisco Herald''. Retrieved on [[May 20]], [[2007]] ==See also== * [[Johnette Napolitano]] * [[James Mankey]] ==External links== *[http://www.concreteblondeofficialwebsite.com/ Concrete Blonde Official Website] *[http://www.johnettenapolitano.com/ Johnette Napolitano] *[http://www.fullinbloommusic.com/johnette.html History of Concrete Blonde w/ Johnette Napolitano] <!--Categories--> [[Category:California musical groups]] [[Category:Alternative musical groups]] [[Category:American alternative rock music groups]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1982]] [[Category:I.R.S. Records artists]] <!--Other languages--> [[de:Concrete Blonde]] [[pt:Concrete Blonde]]