Nile Rodgers Joins Blondie to Perform “Rapture” and “Backfired” at Coachella Set

On April 14, day one of Coachella 2023, Blondie and Nile Rodgers performed together onstage two songs during their set: “Rapture,” their hit song from 1980, and “Backfired,” a solo track by Deborah Harry from 1981.

According to New Musical Express, Rodgers and Blondie have had a long-standing relationship. Rodgers produced the album on which “Backfired” appears (KooKoo), and “Rapture” was inspired by the song “Good Time” by Chic. Rodgers played guitar on both songs on Friday, after the band performed a cover of “The Tide is High” by The Paragons.

A video of Blondie and Rodgers’ performance can be viewed below:

Blondie’s full setlist for the first weekend of Coachella is:

  1. “One Way or Another”
  2. “Hanging on The Telephone” (The Nerves Cover)
  3. “Call Me”
  4. “Maria”
  5. “The Tide is High”
  6. “Rapture” (with Nile Rodgers)
  7. “Backfired” (Deborah Harry Song, with Nile Rodgers)
  8. “Long Time”
  9. “Heart of Glass”
  10. “Atomic”
  11. “Dreaming”

Performing together, members of the Melvins, the Sex Pistols and Blondie released a cover of Small Faces’ “Song of a Baker” last August.

Rodgers recently received Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Grammys in February.

For more information about Coachella, including dates and the artist lineup, read our coverage here or visit www.coachella.com.

Photo credit: Boston Schulz.

Ronan Ruiz: My name is Ronan Ruiz and I'm a Writing and Publication Major at the University of North Georgia. I've written academic essays about LGBTQ+ representation in video games, transgender rights in America, public treatment of female celebrities in recent decades, and wealth inequality in America. I'm also a longtime listener and fan of indie rock music. I'm passionate about art, music, video games, politics, and social issues.
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