What happens when two rock icons agree to interview each other instead of fielding the usual questions from EW?
HARRY:Hi Shirley!
MANSON:Hi Debbie!
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
It’s so good to hear you.
Are you in the states?
HARRY:I’m in Cornwall, England, playing tomorrow night.
MANSON:I’m in Los Angeles at home.
I’m in my bed, actually half dressed, truth be told.
We’re so fing excited about this upcoming tour, you have no idea.
HARRY:It’s going to be such a good one.
We’re going to go get em.
MANSON:Like always, my queen!
Congratulations on the new album [Pollinator] you’ve had quite a year.
HARRY:Yeah, it’s been good!
Are you guys recording right now?
But we have been recording, and we’ll probably continue recording after the tour.
But it’s all about you, baby.
It’s all about Blondie.
Do you think we could play that live?
MANSON:If you want me to, I am your Huckleberry, you know that.
What a great show though, no?
HARRY:I really love it.
Last night I also caught a bit ofFargowith Ewan McGregor.
He’s so good.
MANSON:We were watching it last night as well!
He’s incredible in it.
And it just gets better and better and better.
More importantly, have you been watchingThe Handmaid’s Tale?
HARRY:Ooh yes!
It’s too timely.
It’s terribly scary.
MANSON:Yeah, it’s scary times for humanity, it seems.
HARRY:I like that!
I’m going to hold onto that one.
But how’s the band doing?
Is everybody in good spirits?
HARRY:As usual!
We haven’t really stopped playing, so we’ll definitely be ready to go.
Even when we were recording we were doing gigs now and then.
We’re in the groove of it.
Have you been playing a lot of shows?
MANSON:No, that’s why we’re so nervous!
When we’re at rehearsal everybody groans when I say, “Let’s play that one again!”
I’m like, “Come on, guys!
We’re going to be sharing the stage with fingBlondie, and they’ve been playing all year.
We need to get our s together!”
MANSON:They’re very excited to meet you.
We are all looking at you.
HARRY:Oh God, that’s a horror in itself, isn’t it?
[Laughs]
MANSON:Debbie’s toes are curling in their stilettos!
HARRY:They’re definitely curling, but they’re in platforms today not stilettos!
But you’re the one who’s just laying them dead in L.A.
It must be beautiful over there.
MANSON:It’s too hot for my tastes!
I’m not accustomed to this kind of heat.
My bedroom is the coolest room in my house, I’m always running into it for solace.
MANSON:I’ll quote you on that!
HARRY:You will be, as usual.
I’ve never seen you any other way.
Your voice is a force to be reckoned with.
I’m just looking forward to everything.
Everybody’s talking about the tour at least my friends are!
MANSON:Even my manager, who is like Chicken Little sometimes the sky is falling!
I was like, “Wow, if that’s coming from you, that’s enormous.”
Because he’s always [thinking] the glass is half is empty.
HARRY:Oh God, what kind of manager is that?
But he’s a good man.
How much longer are you in the U.K. for?
Talk about being scared!
That Hyde Park thing really frightens me.
HARRY:I don’t know, it’s just so huge, so ridiculous huge.
MANSON:But you’re Debbie Harry!
You’re not supposed to be scared of all that.
You’ve done everything that anyone in music has ever had to do, pretty much.
you might’t be scared, can you?
HARRY:Well, yes I can.
[Laughs] I mean, I will definitely rise to the occasion.
Once you start playing it’s all fine, you just go at it.
But you do think, “Oh God, that’s a big crowd!”
MANSON:It heartens me to hear that you get still a little nervous about that kind of thing.
[Laughs] Oh my God, you are too much.
MANSON:Listen, you must be delighted with how the new record has been received.
Phenomenal reception all over the world!
We got such good material from all these great writers and performers.
That it’s been received so well is just a delight.
MANSON:And didn’t you just play Australia with Cyndi Lauper?
HARRY:I did!
MANSON:Are you scared that I’m stalking you from afar on the internet?
HARRY:I know what you’re like.
[Laughs]
MANSON:I’m a bit of a Debbie creeper, I have to confess.
But I’m actually harmless.
I promise I’m not dangerous.
HARRY:I can live with the stalking.
MANSON:Okay, good, I’ll try not to get too creepy!
So we’ve got incredible openers as well.
I know you know Sky Ferreira.
HARRY:I love Sky!
MANSON:Her voice?
I love the girls from Deap Vally, who we have opening for us on the East Coast.
And then we have the great John Doe & Exene Cervenka.
I’ve never met Exene and am really looking forward to it.
I’m thrilled we have such an incredible bill everywhere we go.
Have you met John and Exene before?
HARRY:I know them pretty well.
We did a U.S. tour with them a few years ago, and they’re fantastic entertainers.
They sound great, they look great.
And Exene isquitea character.
MANSON:I believe it!
Have you met the Deap Vally girls?
HARRY:No, I haven’t.
MANSON:You’ll love them.
How are your boys holding up otherwise?
HARRY:They’re road warriors.
We’re all such old hands, everyone just keeps rolling along.
I feel very fortunate that we still have the majority of our players.
MANSON:It’s extraordinary, actually.
We were just talking about this at practice yesterday, how bloody lucky we are.
We can’t believe it.
Even to survive and have everyone in good health now is really precious.
Bands half our age don’t even get that lucky sometimes.
It’s good to practice gratitude, as they say.
I used to be so ungracious, I wasn’t even aware that I should be feeling grateful!
HARRY:You get to a point, I’m sure.
MANSON:What is the next step for you guys after we finish the tour?
HARRY:We have dates in the fall and some of it will be back in Europe.
And then I don’t know.
I’m the last one who knows, believe it or not.
It’s good for me in a way.
I like to keep it in the here and now and not what’s coming up.
I’m a Buddhist.
MANSON:Are you really?
MANSON:[Laughs] You totally had me going there for a minute!
I’m interested in Buddhism.
Of all the organized religions, that to me is the only one that makes even vague sense.
I just don’t have the discipline for that kind of practice.
HARRY:How about Transcendental Meditation?
MANSON:I’ve heard it’s incredible, but I’ve never tried it.
HARRY:I’m curious about it.
MANSON:Let’s do a session together when we’re on tour!
He’s adorable and very brilliant.
MANSON:He could be our teacher!
Let’s do it.
And I hope we’re going to do dinner at some point.
We have to be out of the venue having some pleasant downtime munching on something tasty.
HARRY:Of course we will have that.
But I heard you have very bad table manners.
[Laughs]
MANSON:I haveexcellenttable manners contrary to whoever you have been speaking with!
My mother reared me right!
Don’t you worry about that.
HARRY:Well, I’m delighted we’re going to have some fun and make some music together.
This is bringing tears to my eyes honestly.
MANSON:You know it’s very rare that I get off the phone with you not having sobbed.
This might be the first time I’ve never cried when I’ve spoken to you on the phone.
HARRY:Oh, thank goodness.
MANSON:No tears, just nothing but joy, Debbie Harry!
I’m so thrilled that you’ve brought us on this tour.
We cannot wait.
I love you and can’t wait to see you in the flesh.
HARRY:I love you too!
I hope that you have a terrific rehearsal.
Give my regards to your boys!
Tell them we’re ready to take no prisoners.
