Concrete Blonde

After spending several years in the embryonic form of Dream 6 (under which name they released an EP for Happy Hermit in France), Hollywood, California, USA rock band Concrete Blonde formed in 1986.

The founders of the group, former Sparks’s personnel Earle (production) and Jim Mankey (guitars) plus Johnette Napolitano (bass, vocals), were joined by Harry Rushakoff (drums) for their debut on I.R.S. Records. Its alluring mix of energy, sensitivity and streetwise wit secured Concrete Blonde a positive response from both the music press and more mature rock audiences.

For Free Napolitano handed over bass duties to new member Alan Bloch, allowing her to concentrate on singing. Irrespective of this, she remained the focus of the band - her remarkable voice, which sounds both assertive and vulnerable, gives Concrete Blonde much of its poignancy and power.

Bloodletting is perhaps the band's strongest album in terms of emotional intensity, with its painful dissection of an ailing relationship (all song writing handled by Napolitano). It saw the introduction of new percussionist Paul Thompson (ex- Roxy Music), with the group now effectively a trio of Napolitano, Jim Mankey and Thompson. Their Mexican Moon included Hispanic influences, and continued the vein of sincere, sassy and seductive rock that made the band such a welcome presence over the last decade. Napolitano left to form Vowel Movement and then Pretty & Twisted (with Marc Moreland of Wall Of Voodoo), and the rest of the band decided to disband.

In 2002 the original members have released a new album Group Therapy, which includes some of their best work to date.

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