Mother

Album: Panic of Girls (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • Moms who were bought this song as a Mothering Sunday gift from their son or daughter were in for a shock. They discovered that this tune was not an ode to Debbie Harry's dear mother, but instead is about a decadent club. She explained to Q magazine: "'Mother' is actually about a club in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan, which is closed now. It was a major part of my life for a long time. It was held on a Tuesday night and the locals got behind it in a big way. They had themed nights and I would dress up and go see funny people doing funny things, with a lot of sexual stuff going on."
  • The song received its global premiere on BBC Radio on March 17, 2011. It was made available for purchase on May 23, 2011.
  • The zombie-filled video features cameos by film director Larry Fessenden, actor James Lorinz, Kate Pierson of the B-52s and Andy Warhol's double Alan Midgette plus several of the original Mother club crowd. Also keep an eye open for Debbie Harry playing a zombie in the final scene. "When we were talking about making a video I was watching The Walking Dead and figured, 'Hey, everyone loves zombies and there hasn't really been a zombie vid since Michael,'" Blondie guitarist Chris Stein told Spinner.

    The clip was shot cheaply in Kingston, New York, on the same block where the first American street corner is still in use.

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