Earlier this year, when the four original members of musical pioneers Blondie (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri) released "No Exit" (their first studio album in more than 17 years), the record was heralded as: "thrilling," "vibrant," "the best Blondie record ever" and "...nothing short of a transforming experience" and has sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide to date.

Crafting an accomplished rock album is never easy, but in this age of lip-synching and backing tracks, proving musical integrity on- stage is often the bigger challenge.

When Blondie returned to the concert stage this spring in support of "No Exit," with a set list full of stellar pop classics, the band proved they could deliver a show brimming with all the attitude of their legendary shows at New York's CBGBs, but backed up with a tighter musical punch than ever.

From early east-side punk favorites ("Rip Her to Shreds," "X Offender," "Atomic," "In the Flesh" ) through the classic No. 1 hits ("Heart of Glass," "Call Me," "The Tide is High," "Rapture") to the new songs that fit seamlessly into the set (hit single "Maria," "Screaming Skin," "Forgive & Forget") the group night-after-night delivered a set that proved "Blondie retains an edginess most of its followers lack." (Miami Herald).

Now, upon completion of the long-awaited tour that fans thought they would never see, the members of Blondie have compiled 19 of their favorite tracks (recorded throughout the world) for release as the band's first authorized live album.

To be released on Nov. 23 (Beyond Music), BLONDIE LIVE begins with the distinctive drum solo opening of "Dreaming," and the songs famed (and apropos) declaration of: "You could tell I was no debutante."

From that point on, the disc flows through one moment of concert magic after another, closing with the rarely performed live version of "No Exit w/ The Loud Record Allstars" -- featuring Coolio and members of Mobb Deep & The Wu-Tang Clan.

As a testament to the popularity of Blondie's return, Emmy- winning producer David E. Kelly has selected "One Way or Another" as the theme song of his new series "Snoops," debuting this week. Also, look for Blondie on an upcoming broadcast of "Hard Rock Live." (air date TBD)

Blondie (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and Jimmy Destri) has announced the highly anticipated "No Exit" tour this summer in U.S. markets in support of their latest album release, "No Exit." This will mark Blondie's first U.S. tour in more than 16 years.

"Blondie's (New York 2/23/99) show was a reminder of how wide open New York Rock was 20 years ago... nearly two decades (later), Blondie has proved that its songs, and the emotions they harbor, have outlasted their original moment." -- Jon Pareles, The New York Times, 2/25/99

Alex Hodges, senior vice president of Universal Concerts, said: "This is a tour fans thought they would never see, from a band who's set so many musical and cultural standards. The European leg of this tour featured Blondie hits mixed in with the new album so American fans should expect the same. The bottom line is Blondie is an icon."

Tickets for all shows will be available via www.blondie.net and www.atomicpop.com starting Friday, April 9, and available via local ticket outlets starting the weekend of April 10 (specific days will vary in local markets -- check local listings).

Blondie leapt indelibly onto music's landscape in 1976 and to date have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, including essential titles "Plastic Letters," "Parallel Lines," "Eat To The Beat" and "Autoamerican," and enjoyed five No. 1 singles: "Heart Of Glass," "Call Me," "The Tide Is High," "Rapture" and current single "Maria."

"No Exit," the band's acclaimed new album has sold more than one million records worldwide in its first month. The North American tour follows on the heels of the band's sold-out UK/European arena tour.

For the first time in Australia, a major music festival - The Falls - is to be broadcast live over the Internet on New Years Eve. The festival is held annually in The Otway Ranges, 10 kilometres from the heart of Lorne on Victorias Surf Coast (Australia).

The festival presents 2 huge days of music featuring 55 bands in total with some of the best local and international talent... Blondie, Mudhoney (USA), You Am I, Grinspoon, Even, Bodyjar, Violetine, Screamfeeder plus stacks more... a massive Cybercircus Tent, an outdoor cinema, market stalls and free camping...

This year we're giving away VIRTUAL FRONT ROW SEATS... A chance for those who can't make it in the flesh to share Australia's hottest summer festival with 12,000 plus fans live...

Hitting the World Wide Web at approx. 5pm (EST) on December 31st with an hour of highlights, the broadcast will switch to the main stage at 6pm, for the Live Transmission, with regular crosses to the Cybercircus Tent and the 2nd stage.

Other online stuff happening throughout the festival will include chat sessions with band members, photos from the frontline and cool competitions.

Tune into the broadcast through http://www.thefalls.net.

For media enquiries contact Marisa Gallagher on (03) 9773 4012 or 0419 892129.

Labyrinth Connections (Amazing Internet Solutions) is a Melbourne based Internet Service Provider (http://www.labyrinth.net.au).

Kick-Art are web-based promoters dedicated to supporting the young Australian music scene (http://www.kick-art.com.au).

"Hordes came to pay homage to one of America's classic pop groups, including scores of teenage blondes... Harry is absurdly, unfeasibly, almost illegally, sexy... hits sounded fresher than yesterday because somehow Blondie retains an edginess many younger bands lack... Far from being a mere nostalgia show, the set showed with 'Forgive and Forget' and other super newies that these old stagers retain a grasp of stiletto-sharp pop." - Guardian (London)

"Before Madonna, No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, Garbage's Shirley Manson or any of the Spice Girls, there was gorgeous Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry... Debbie was one of the first to open doors for women."- New York Post

"Blondie in 1998 are determined to show that life is back to normal and age is immaterial when you have the songs. And songs are something that Blondie never had a shortage of... twenty years later, both the songs and the band ooze the 'IT' factor. Charisma, it would seem, is a lifelong thing." - Independent

"Debbie Harry's grin may have won over men and women alike 20 years ago, but it's her music, her sassiness, and her obvious strength that have made her a lasting influence. Madonna, Courtney Love, Spice Girls, bow down the lot of you to the Powerpop Queen." - Guardian (London)

"I had never seen them better... the performance was one of those timeless moments people haunt clubs for." - Village Voice (New York)

"David Davies, Editor of Q magazine, said, 'You can see Debbie Harry was very much an icon for a lot of bands today and perhaps cruelly neglected for a time.'" - London Times

"They are one of the few bands to emerge from the New York new wave scene that have stood the test of time and their hits will be just as fresh as ever." - M' Boro E Gaz

"A couple of the new songs sound like future hits and I can't wait to witness the second coming of the mother of all blondes." - Sun Express (London)

The musical group Blondie announced today that their first television performance in nearly sixteen years will happen on the 26th annual American Music Awards, airing live from Los Angeles on January 11 on ABC-TV. The band will perform "No Exit" (the title track from their forthcoming album of original music) with groundbreaking rapper Coolio.

Blondie leapt indelibly onto music's landscape in 1976 and to date have sold over 40 million albums world-wide, including essential titles "Plastic Letters", "Parallel Lines", "Eat to the Beat", and "Autoamerican", and enjoyed four #1 singles: "Heart of Glass," "Call Me," "Eat to the Beat," and "Rapture," By combining Funk, Disco, and Reggae with their decidedly Punk roots, Blondie shattered musical convention and still defies easy categorization. Blondie's first original record in 16 years, "No Exit", is due out February 23, 1999 on Beyond Records.

Coolio broke prominently onto the music scene in 1994, when he experienced two #1 world-wide hits with "Fantastic Voyage" and "Gangsta's Paradise;" Coolio has sold over 20 million records to date.

Blondie is in a New York studio working on an original album, titled "No Exit", due on Beyond Music in February 1999. "No Exit" marks the first original record from the band in over 16 years and reunites legendary creative partners Deborah Harry and Chris Stein. In addition to Deborah and Chris, the line-up consists of original members Jimmy Destri (keyboards) and Clem Burke (drums). Craig Leon, who co-produced the group's self-titled debut release on independent label Private Stock, is at the knobs again.

Blondie lept indelibly onto music's landscape in 1976 and to date have sold over 40 million albums world-wide, including essential titles "Parallel Lines", "Eat to the Beat", and "Autoamerican", and enjoyed four #1 singles: "Heart of Glass", "Call Me", "The Tide is High", and "Rapture". The group's groundbreaking musical and cultural vision have entrenched them as a worldwide phenomenon. The group's music has enjoyed a renaissance and been featured in over 30 television shows and films in the past two years. The band is preparing a world tour to coincide with the record; look for a future announcement.