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The Time Is Nigh

The band began considering a reunion three years ago ("We have this legacy we can cash in on," Harry has remarked. "We'd be stupid if we didn't"). After rehearsals and a recording session involving Harrison, disagreements arose over new material -- leading to the pared-down lineup heard on No Exit. Harrison and guitarist Frank Infante say they were left out unfairly. Stein disagrees: "Nigel didn't really want to do it. I don't think that's anything too litigious to say." Maybe not. But the two ousted musicians have filed suit over the reunion's legitimacy -- and the profits involved.

"Maria," the first single, is getting decent airplay, but the album sounds as though time had stopped in 1982, when the band was on creative autopilot. It's eclectic in the way all Blondie albums have been: There's the reggae song, the disco-ish number, the charmingly mushy ballad. The title track even re-creates Blondie's most singular hit: Like "Rapture," "No Exit" features a rap showdown between Harry and a guest rhymer, this time Coolio.

No Exit hits stores February 23, the day the band plays an invitation-only concert at Town Hall. A brief warm-up tour in Europe was a sellout, and "Maria" debuted at No. 1 in England. "The shows have been great," says Burke. "I think we're communicating better than ever onstage. What do you guys think?" The room is silent. Destri, still on his back, covers his eyes with his forearm. "The interview environment is a little less than ideal sometimes," Burke notes.

The muffled but insistent roar of another band down the hall fills the room. "These guys are really good, this band," Burke says.

Harry glances up: "It sounds like a tape!"

"I know," replies Burke. "It's good."

Stein chimes in: "I don't know. I don't think it's a tape."

"I think that's what it is," says Harry, putting her soup down. "There's not enough movement."

"Not enough low-end, rock-the-room stuff," adds Burke.

"That's 'cause the fuckin' door's closed!" erupts Stein.

The music grows louder. "This sounds live now," says Harry.

"Yeah," Burke agrees. "It was a tape before."

"Nonsense!" says Stein. "You guys are so dense, I can't believe it! They have the door open now!"

Not that anybody's going anywhere.