Jimmy Destri, founding member, keyboardist, and hit songwriter of the legendary group Blondie has formed a new band, Jimmy Destri and The Sound Grenade – Don’t miss this singer, songwriter, producer, and inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame live!
The Lower East Side is not what it used to be, especially for those founding members of the Punk/New Wave scene 30 years ago and the CBGBs front-liners who claimed it. With age comes a different breed altogether. Jimmy Destri, founding member, keyboardist, and hit songwriter of the legendary group Blondie has formed a new band, Jimmy Destri and The Sound Grenade. Destri composed and arranged many songs with Blondie, including the number one hits “Atomic,” “Picture This,” and “Maria.” Today, Blondie remains one of the most commercially successful groups to have emerged from the Punk/New Wave scene. Destri was an integral partner in Blondie for over three decades, writing over 30 of their songs, and contributing his unique synth sounds to the group. Destri hasn’t played with Blondie since 2004, but, instead, has started over with a fresh new band of talented musicians.
“When I started hearing what the kids were up to I got a huge kick that a lot of the new bands were imitating my earlier synth sound.” (check out the mash up of Blondie and Arcade Fire) 
Backed by some of today’s best players, the band plays Destri-only penned songs from his vast Blondie catalog, as well as Destri’s solo work and new material. According to Jimmy Destri, “when Evan Taylor (one of Destri’s new band mates and drummer for The Bernie Worrell Orchestra) expressed interest in getting together a band that performed my material only, I was very hesitant. Really, is that what you kids want to do? They were more than enthusiastic. After some wearing down, we started to rehearse and just all clicked.” Also performing with Destri is Janet LaBelle (backing vocals, keyboard), Scott Hogan (bass), Kyle Cadena (Lead Guitar), and Glen Fittin (Drums).
So what can the public expect to hear this time around? “Something loud” is all that Jimmy will reveal, though the fans are sure to recognize a lot of Jimmy’s older material. “There is something hair-raising about hearing some of those solos ingrained in your brain, live. Even his new music is signature Destri,” raves one fan. One is sure to walk away with a new respect for the timelessness of Destri’s writing.
The Bowery Electric
327 Bowery
New York, NY 10003
Thursday, April 19, 2012 – 10PM (21+)
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The Outer Space
295 Treadwell St.
Hamden, CT 06514
Friday, April 20, 2012 – 7PM
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Flywheel
43 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Saturday, April 21, 2012 – 7PM
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The Spot
286 Thayer St.
Providence, RI 02921
Sunday, April 22, 2012 – 7PM
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