Tonight's support, his old Squeeze band-mate Chris Difford, showed a different talent: a shambling man with a cement-mixer voice, blessed with a sublime, confessional pop gift.
For their UK tour, Blondie are supported by Deptford's greatest pop band, Squeeze.
On and on they came, from the Pearl Harbor survivor who was the parade marshal, to the Uncle Sam on stilts, the veterans, police officers, fire trucks and local politicians, to the Federation of Polish Sportsmen and the Squeeze Play Accordion Band.
The band Squeeze have staged a protest against David Cameron live on BBC television by changing the lyrics of their new song to rail against the destruction of the welfare state.
His band, Squeeze, had just finished touring with the superannuated NYC post-punks, which led him to observe: "We supported them there, and now, 22 years later, we're still supporting them.
Later this year he rejoins his former band Squeeze for a major tour (they reunited for a handful of shows in 2007), and will rejoin co-founder Glenn Tilbrook to start writing their first album since they split in 1999, while he is currently releasing his fourth solo album.
Their management put on the squeeze and the band gave in.
Tory Britain CAMERON WAS ATTACKED ON TV BY 70S ROCK BAND SQUEEZE They changed the lyrics of a song to attack Tory policy, next to the Prime Minister.
The band squeezed onto the main stage just before Guns N' Roses.
The six band members squeeze on to the small Komedia stage trying not to trip over the harp, drum kit and keyboards, and early signs aren't promising as the audience is nearly blasted into the sea by grungey bass.
(Sinagra) GLENN TILBROOK (Tonight Glenn Tilbrookk, of the 80's melodic poppers Squeeze, continues his erstwhile band's quirky, hooky music, this time taking a crack at lyric-writing. 10, Coda, 34 East 34th Street, Manhattan, (212) 685-3434; $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
