Blondie will release its 12th studio album, High Noon, on February 26, 2027, via BMG. The 13-track record is the band’s first collection of new studio material since 2017’s Pollinator and includes the final recordings of co-founding drummer Clem Burke, who died in April 2025. The announcement arrived alongside “Spectral Eyes,” a single written by and featuring former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.
Key Takeaways
- High Noon is scheduled for February 26, 2027, nine years after Pollinator.
- The 13-track album will be Blondie’s 12th studio release.
- Johnny Marr wrote and plays guitar on the lead single, “Spectral Eyes.”
- The record features Clem Burke’s final studio recordings with the band.
- John Congleton produced the album, with contributions from Glen Matlock, Zach Condon and members of Lucius.
Blondie Confirms High Noon Release Date
Blondie has confirmed February 26, 2027, as the release date for High Noon, its first studio album of new material in nine years. The album follows Pollinator, released in 2017, and marks another chapter for a group whose music has crossed punk, new wave, pop and dance styles since emerging from New York’s downtown scene in the 1970s.
The track list contains 13 songs, beginning with “Spectral Eyes” and including “Heartbreak Kid,” “Sleepwalking” and “Little Metal Drummer.” The band’s announcement describes a record drawing on rock, punk, dance music and Latin rhythms. Singer Debbie Harry has characterized the project as a combination of Blondie’s past influences and its present perspective.
Alongside the new songs, High Noon carries particular significance as the last Blondie studio project to feature Burke’s recordings. His performances were completed before his death, making the album both a new release and a final recorded contribution from a longtime member.
“Spectral Eyes” Introduces the Album With Johnny Marr
“Spectral Eyes,” the album’s opening track and lead single, was written by Johnny Marr, who also plays guitar on the recording. Marr rose to prominence with the Smiths and has since worked as a solo artist and collaborator across alternative and rock music.
The single provides the first released example of the material on High Noon. Marr’s participation also continues Blondie’s long history of working with musicians beyond its principal lineup, an approach that helped shape the band’s recordings across different decades.
In 1980, Ananda Xenia Shakti, a member of the punk group the B-Girls, contributed backing vocals on Autoamerican. That earlier collaboration offers a historical parallel to the guest performances appearing on High Noon, even as the new album brings together a different group of musicians.
High Noon Is Blondie’s First Studio Album Since 2017
Blondie’s previous studio album, Pollinator, arrived in 2017. The band has issued live and archival material in the years since, but High Noon will be its first full-length studio collection of new songs in nine years.
The return also places Blondie among long-established bands releasing new music decades after their initial breakthroughs. For Blondie, the new album pairs that continuing creative activity with the contributions of musicians from several generations and genres.
Both Pollinator and High Noon feature outside collaborators, while producer John Congleton connects the two studio projects. The continuity gives listeners a point of comparison when the new album arrives, without suggesting that it will simply revisit the sound of its predecessor.
Clem Burke’s Final Recordings Feature on High Noon
High Noon includes the final Blondie studio recordings of co-founding drummer Clem Burke, who died in April 2025 at age 70. Recording sessions began in New York in 2022, allowing Burke to contribute to the album before his death.
Burke was a defining part of the band’s recorded and live sound for decades. His presence on the new record ties Blondie’s upcoming release to the lineup and history behind many of its best-known recordings.
Because High Noon will be released after his death, the album also represents a posthumous appearance by Burke. The significance lies in hearing his final recorded work with Blondie as part of a newly released studio album, rather than an archival collection.
John Congleton Produces an Album With Multiple Guest Musicians
John Congleton produced High Noon after previously working with Blondie on Pollinator. David Wrench contributed additional production and mixing, extending the album’s production team beyond its principal producer.
The guest list includes Johnny Marr, former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, Beirut frontman Zach Condon and Lucius vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. Their involvement brings musicians associated with punk, alternative rock and indie music into the same project.
The confirmed contributors reflect the band’s longstanding interest in crossing musical boundaries. With “Spectral Eyes” already released, the full album will reveal how those contributions fit together when it arrives in February 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Blondie’s High Noon album be released?
High Noon is scheduled for February 26, 2027, via BMG.
What is the first single from High Noon?
The lead single is “Spectral Eyes,” written by and featuring guitarist Johnny Marr.
How long has it been since Blondie’s previous studio album?
High Noon follows 2017’s Pollinator, making it the band’s first studio album of new material in nine years.
Does High Noon feature Clem Burke?
Yes. It includes Burke’s final studio recordings with Blondie. The co-founding drummer died in April 2025.
Who produced High Noon?
John Congleton produced the album, with additional production and mixing by David Wrench.
