SHE may be 58 but iconic pop star Debbie Harry can still cut it live as the band which made her a legend proved in Birmingham on Saturday night.

Frenzied dancing, impassioned singing and a stage presence which would even put Kylie to shame gave the setlist - featuring of some of the greatest pop singles ever - an edge over the usual staid run of belated reunion tours.

Blondie were huge in Britain during the late 1970s and the lasting impression they made was clearly visible in the audience as the six-piece band tore through Atomic, Dreaming, Sunday Girl and the dynamic "Rip Her to Shreds" to rapturous applause.

The songs are as sensual, playful, daring and fun as ever although their insistence on playing tougher, more punk-style tracks alienated some fans, the worst offender being a bizarre, almost discordant rendering of The Tide Is High.

But although some noticeable hits were missing - Denis, Picture This and Union City Blue especially - the strength of the songwriting shone through. And, with tracks from this year's The Curse of Blondie album sitting comfortably in the set, it seems New York's most famous have many more years left to go. OE