Concrete Blonde [ tickets ] has always taken its time. The Los Angeles act got its start in the early-'80s' post-punk scene, but didn't get around to releasing its self-titled debut until 1986. However, taking its time has usually translated into getting it right for this melodic rock band.

When the group disbanded a few years after recording the masterful "Mexican Moon," Concrete Blonde was at the very height of its powers. Since that time, the devoted fans have whispered and hoped and prayed that singer-songwriter-bassist Johnette Napolitano, guitarist Jim Mankey and drummer Harry Rushakoff would reunite to record new material and sing old songs.

But, as one would expect, the band was on its own schedule. Napolitano--the key ingredient--worked on other musical projects and focused on her painting and writing.

The band reunited late last year to record a new album, "Group Therapy." Best of all, Concrete Blonde is touring again.

Recently, Napolitano, took the time to talk with liveDaily about the original break up, decision to reform the band, the new tour and "Group Therapy."

The first question is obvious: why is now the right time to regroup Concrete Blonde?

Johnette Napolitano: I don't know. I don't know. It happened very fast. I started flipping out [last] May. I started having nightmares about bombs falling. I showed up at [Jim Mankey's] house and had a complete attack of panic. I spent a couple of days in Jim's guest room having these nightmares. I couldn't function at all. And Jim took me to a psychiatrist who said, and I quote, "There are things we can't explain."

We drove out to see Harry [Rushakoff], who had been in rehab, and who was doing quite well. We sat there having lunch and we said "What do you think if we made a record?"

Where did it go from there?

In June, we started jamming and channeling. We wound up with 18 one-hour tapes of general musings and things. In July, we started refining those things. And in August, we spent 10 days in the studio. And then the s--- hit the fan [on Sept. 11].

Is it hard for the band to get comfortable again after all these years?

We had long lunches before every rehearsal because we really had to get to know each other again. We are going two weeks on and two weeks off [on tour] to give each other a lot of space and make sure we can still get along and do it.

How is it different this time around?

We have a much more balanced sense of life now. Like, you know, I take my flamenco lessons and I have my dogs. And I had my first solo [painting] show in Stockton, [Calif.,] last year, which was like a dream come true. So there are a lot of things. [The band] is no longer the end all of our existence. It's a more balanced, healthy way to look at it, and I think we enjoy it more because of it.

What are the band's long-term plans? Will there be another new album after "Group Therapy"?

We are not pressuring ourselves. We have no preconceived ideas about what is going to happen. I'm really pleased that people are excited about [the reunion]. I didn't know if anyone would care.

In retrospect, do you think it was a good idea to break up Concrete Blonde in the first place?

Very. I don't regret that for a single second. You have to enrich your own life as an individual before you can bring anything to the collective.

For my own personal [sense of] achievement, I needed to up the level of my art. I needed to do something else. In retrospect, and seeing how things are working out right now, I don't think we would have cared as much, or we would have been able to do what we are doing now, if we would have hung around.

I think some of us took the situation for granted. I think some of us were too comfortable. And I don't think an artist should ever get too comfortable. I think you always have to be evolving, and I think you always have to kick yourself in the ass and make sure that you evolve.