PaulinLondon
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BLONDIE :GUILFEST : 5 July 2008, like....
Delays on the A40 and M25 aside, we make it from Finchley to Guildford to check out Blondie at this year’s Guilfest. It is Saturday 5 July 2008 and the weather looks to be in our favour.
The in-laws live in Guildford so with our overnight stop assured and after checking in, we head to the festival.
Nothing in terms of lay out has changed since The Stranglers played here in 2006. Even the same stalls are in place and it’s strange to see old punks sipping Pimms outside of the Pimms bus. Why not ? It’s cheap and maybe that’s down to the credit crunch.
The weather is cloudy. Massive banks of grey give way to fantastic sunshine from 8pm and after great sets from Dodgy and then Kula Shaker, Blondie, minus Debbie, walk on stage.
The reception from the crowd is fantastic. The band are on stage minus Debbie. They are all in black apart from the fabulous drummer, Clem Burke, who is clad with red track suit top and white trousers. They look at each other and then suddenly start an instrumental groove which is nothing short of a slow, “Time to Die”. This lasts for nearly four minutes and they stop. Suddenly, from the wings and to incredible applause, Debbie arrives. She is dressed in black with a red beret and looks stunning. The cheek bones are there, the movements are there and the band begin to usher in the entirety of “Parallel Lines” from start to finish. It is a fantastic gig and I remind myself that Ms Deborah Harry turned 63 early last week.
They complete the “Parallel Lines” set and launch into the other hits from during their reign. “Atomic” is fabulous as is the even more reggae version of “The Tide is High” and a blistering “Call Me’ courtesy of the phenomenal Clem on drums. Whilst our dear Jet Black trenches in and peers from his kit, Clem is all over it like a huge spider, poking one of his sticks at Debbie as she is about to deliver her next line. He does this all through the set, at the bass player too and Clem looks brilliant in his white CBGB tshirt which is on display once the red track suit top becomes a bit too hot to wear. He is the star of the show and for all his documented troubles over the years, he is having the time of his life.
I have a couple of Blondie fans next to me and they rate him, as they have been doing all afternoon, as the best drummer from that generation. We agree to disagree.
Had a good old fry up and a natter this morning with the kids and we all voted that Clem was the star of the show last night. The band gave it their all, Debbie was great but Clem was the rock.
A great night and I would see them again. Deffo, like.
PiL.
This is the best picture I could get on the phone….. Quite MiB to the right of centre, like. 
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Andrew
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Cheers for the review. I've seen Blondie over a dozen times but won't make any dates this time around. Good to know they've still got it!
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Claireinblack
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Thanks for that Paul
I would love to see them in Liverpool with the boys, but it's not going to happen.......
Glad you had a good time, and the weather held out !!
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ravenlunatic
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Re: BLONDIE :GUILFEST : 5 July 2008, like....Very interesting Paul. Despite being a Blondie fan for 30 years I have never seen them live, and while I have had the chance a few times in recent years, I have been slightly reticent as I thought they might be a bit of a disapointment after all this time to be honest. But from what you tell us perhaps I should make the effort to catch them.
It sounds like a good time was had.
| PaulinLondon wrote: |
Even the same stalls are in place and it’s strange to see old punks sipping Pimms outside of the Pimms bus. Why not ?
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We converted that (and its "sister ship" ) here last year. Bloody things makes my back ache as I can't stand up straight inside them.
And never a sip of Pimms comes this way either! 
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PaulinLondon
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Re: BLONDIE :GUILFEST : 5 July 2008, like.... | ravenlunatic wrote: |
We converted that (and its "sister ship" ) here last year. Bloody things makes my back ache as I can't stand up straight inside them.
And never a sip of Pimms comes this way either!
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That's the one RL and there was another bus near to one of the other stages.
Imagine the bus, as you have pictured, with deck chairs and garden furniture and well, you get the idea.....
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Claireinblack
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Sounds very civilised to me....
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gizzard
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Saw Blondie last night at Bristol Academy and they were fantastic!
Full review and some damn good pics to follow. 
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Freddie Laker
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Nice one Paul - sounds like a spiffing time was had by one and all.
Saw Kula Shaker a few months back - not really my cup of tea but quite a tight band, complete with "massive swelling organ", and that floppy-haired Crispian is a mean guitarist.
After yours and Gizz's reviews I wish I'd made a bit more effort to see Blondie, if only to see the second best drummer of his generation in action.
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mick12345
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Went to see blondie last year in Blackpool and they was great my mrs a big fan,this year we going to Liverpool to see blondie and the stranglers so carnt wait for that one.
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