The B-52s | |
|---|---|
 The B-52s performing live in 2011. Left to right, top to bottom:Fred Schneider,Kate Pierson,Cindy Wilson,Keith Strickland. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Athens, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
| Past members | Ricky Wilson |
| Website | theb52s |
The B-52s, originally presented asthe B-52's (with an errantapostrophe; used until 2008), are an Americannew wave band formed inAthens, Georgia, in 1976.[8] The original lineup consisted ofFred Schneider (vocals, percussion),Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass),Cindy Wilson (vocals, percussion),Ricky Wilson (guitar, vocals), andKeith Strickland (drums, guitar, keyboards, vocals). Ricky Wilson died ofAIDS-related illness in 1985,[9] and Strickland permanently switched from drums to lead guitar. The band has also added various members for albums and live performances.
The B-52s have had many hits, including "Rock Lobster", "Planet Claire", "Party Out of Bounds", "Private Idaho", "Whammy Kiss", "Summer of Love", "Wig", "Love Shack", "Roam", "Funplex" and "(Meet) The Flintstones". They have been nominated for threeGrammy Awards: twice forBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1990 and 1991, and forBest Alternative Music Album in 1992. In April 2022, the group announced they were retiring from touring.[10] A 2023 Las Vegas residency was announced in November 2022.[11]
The group evoked a "thrift shop aesthetic", in Bernard Gendron's words,[7] by drawing from 1950s and 1960s pop music, rock and roll, andcamp/kitsch culture. Schneider, Pierson, and Wilson sometimes usecall-and-response-style vocals (Schneider's often humorousSprechgesang contrasting with Wilson's and Pierson's melodic harmonies), and their guitar- and keyboard-driven instrumentation is their trademark sound, which was also set apart from their contemporaries by the unusual guitar tunings Ricky Wilson used on their earlier albums.
They formed as "the B-52's" in 1976 when Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson (her elder brother), Pierson, Strickland, andcowbell player, poet, and lead vocalist Schneider held an impromptu jam session after sharing aflaming volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant in Athens, Georgia. When they first jammed, Strickland played guitar and Ricky Wilson played congas. They later played their first concert (with Wilson on guitar) in 1977 at aValentine's Day party for their friends.[12]
The name "B-52's" comes from a particularbeehive hairdo resembling the nose cone ofthe aircraft, which Pierson and Cindy Wilson wore in performances during the band's first decade.[13] Other names the band considered were the Tina-Trons and Fellini's Children.[14] Strickland suggested the name after a dream he had of a band performing in a hotel lounge. In the dream, he heard someone whisper in his ear that the band's name was "the B-52's".
The band's quirky take on the new wave sound of its era was a combination ofdance andsurf music set apart from their contemporaries bythrift-store chic and the unusual guitar tunings Ricky Wilson used.
The band's first single, "Rock Lobster", recorded forDB Records in 1978, was an underground success, selling over 2,000 copies, that led to gigs atCBGB andMax's Kansas City. Both this version of "Rock Lobster" and its B-side, "52 Girls", are different recordings from those that appear on the band's 1979 debut album, and the early version of "52 Girls" is in a different key.
The re-recorded version of "Rock Lobster" was also released as a single and in the UK and Germany was backed with an instrumental version of "Running Around", a non-album track at the time. (A vocal re-recording of this appears on the band's second album, 1980'sWild Planet.) The buzz the record created in the UK meant their first show in London at theElectric Ballroom was packed and attended by UK pop stars, includingSandie Shaw,Green Gartside fromScritti Politti, andJoe Jackson. In Canada, released on theWarner Bros. label, the single went from cult hit to No. 1 on theRPM-compiled national chart on May 24, 1980.[15]John Lennon credited the song with returning him to writing music.[16]
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In 1979, the B-52s signed contracts as they flew over toCompass Point Studios inNassau, Bahamas, to record their debutstudio album, with Island founderChris Blackwell producing. The band was surprised by Blackwell's recording methods; he wanted to keep the sound as close as possible to its live sound, so he used almost no overdubs or additional effects.
Released on July 6, 1979,The B-52's contained re-recorded versions of "Rock Lobster" and "52 Girls", six originals recorded solely for the album, and a cover of thePetula Clark hit "Downtown". The album was a major success, especially in Australia, where it reached No. 3 on the charts alongside its three singles: "Planet Claire", "Rock Lobster", and "Dance This Mess Around". In the U.S., the single "Rock Lobster" reached theBillboard Hot 100 chart,[17] while the album was certifiedplatinum by theRIAA. In 1980,John Lennon called the B-52s his favorite band and specifically cited "Rock Lobster" as an inspiration for hisDouble Fantasy.[18][19]
In April 1980, the B-52s returned to Compass Point Studios to record their next album. Several of the songs on the new album had been concert staples since 1978; the band did not record them for their first album, as they had more songs than could fit in a qualityLP record.[20][5]Rhett Davies co-produced the album, which had a more polished production sound than the debut.
Released on August 27, 1980,Wild Planet was well received by critics. It reached No. 18 on theBillboard 200 chart in 1980[21] and was certified gold; "Private Idaho" became the band's second Hot 100 entry. The B-52s performed onSaturday Night Live on January 26, 1980, and at theHeatwave festival (promoted as the "New Wave Woodstock") in Toronto, Canada, in August 1980. The band also appeared in thePaul Simon filmOne Trick Pony. In July 1981,Party Mix! was released, a six-song collection containing songs from the first two albums remixed and sequenced to form two long tracks, one on each side.
In 1981, the band collaborated withTalking Heads'David Byrne to produce a third full-length studio album. Reportedly due to differences with Byrne over the album's musical direction, recording sessions for the album were aborted, prompting the band to releaseMesopotamia in 1982 as anEP. (In 1991,Party Mix! andMesopotamia, the latter of which had been remixed, were combined and released together on a singlecompact disc.) Also in 1982, the band appeared at the inauguralUS Festival, performing on the first day.
In December 1982, the band began recording their third album,Whammy!. According to Pierson, Strickland no longer wanted to play the drums, so the band switched todrum machines for this album, with Strickland and Ricky Wilson playing all the music on the album, and the rest of the band providing vocals only. Having originally played guitars, organ, bass guitar and synthesizers, Pierson switched to a mainly vocal role in the studio, but remained behind the keyboards on tour. The band also began experimenting heavily withsynthesizers during this period.
Released on April 27, 1983,Whammy! reached No. 29 on theBillboard 200 chart.[22] "Legal Tender" reached theBillboard Hot 100 chart, as well as theBillboard Hot Dance Club Play Singles chart alongside "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation".[22] For theWhammy! tour, some tracks featured Strickland on the drums while others used a backing track so Strickland could come forward and play other parts. This also freed up the vocalists (now sometimes not playing instruments) to perform some simple choreography. Copyright issues withYoko Ono led to thecover song "Don't Worry"[23] being removed from the album and replaced by "Moon 83"—a rearranged version of "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)" from their debut album—on future pressings ofWhammy!.[22]
Before the work on the next album the band took a one-year break during which Fred Schneider released his debut solo albumFred Schneider and the Shake Society.
In January 1985, the B-52s performed in Brazil atRock in Rio, for their largest crowd ever. Later in the year, the band struggled to write new material for their next album. The band members all lived together in the same house and felt that collaboration was not working, so they decided to try to write songs separately and began recording in July 1985, again using drum machines and synthesizers extensively. During the recording, guitarist Wilson had been suffering fromAIDS,[24] though none of the other band members were aware of his illness except for Strickland, as Wilson "did not want anyone to worry about him or fuss about him."[25] Wilson died from his illness on October 12, 1985, at the age of 32.[24]
When the band returned to the studio, Strickland had learned how to play the guitar in Wilson's style and switched permanently to the new instrument, leaving session players to complete the rhythm section. The results were released on September 8, 1986, asBouncing off the Satellites, a mixture of solo efforts and group efforts. Because of Wilson's death, the band did not tour to promote the album.[26] A music video was made for "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland" and the band appeared on some UK television programs but then took a two-year hiatus. Keith Strickland moved toWoodstock, New York, while Pierson and Schneider stayed inNew York City. In 1987, the band released apublic service announcement in the style ofthe Beatles'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Bandalbum cover on behalf ofamfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.[27]
Strickland had been composing in 1988. After he played some of his new music for the other band members, they all agreed to try writing together again, with Pierson, Wilson and Schneider contributing the lyrics and melodies. In 1989, the band releasedCosmic Thing, their mainstream breakthrough, onReprise Records worldwide. The single "Channel Z" from the new album became an alternative and college radio hit, hitting No. 1 on the U.S.Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart,[28] receiving significant airplay onMTV'smodern rock show120 Minutes. They then embarked on theCosmic Tour.[29]
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The next single, "Love Shack", with its party vibe and colorfulmusic video,[30] became their first top 40 hit on theBillboard Hot 100, ultimately reaching No. 3 in November 1989.[31] That peak was matched in March 1990 when their follow-up single, "Roam", also reached No. 3.[32] In Australia, the country that had most embraced the band a decade earlier, "Love Shack" remained at No. 1 for eight weeks.
A fourth single, "Deadbeat Club", which reminisced about the band's early days in Athens and whose video was shot on location and featured a cameo by fellow Athens artistR.E.M.'sMichael Stipe, reached No. 30.Cosmic Thing climbed into the U.S. top five and earned multi-platinum certification.[33] The album also had international success, reaching No. 1 in both Australia and New Zealand and No. 8 in the UK. The group had a successful world tour to support the record and appeared on the cover ofRolling Stone in March 1990.[34] In 1990, the B-52s were nominated for fourMTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year. They won two awards: Best Group Video and Best Art Direction.
Pierson sang onIggy Pop's song "Candy", which gave him a top 40 hit. In 1991, Schneider's 1984 solo record,Fred Schneider and the Shake Society, was repackaged and re-released, resulting in his first Hot 100 single when "Monster" climbed to No. 85. Also that year, Pierson again guest-starred on a popular track, R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People", which reached No. 10 in September. Pierson also appeared on two other songs from R.E.M.'s chart-topping albumOut of Time: "Near Wild Heaven" and "Me in Honey", as well as the outtake "Fretless".
In late 1990,Cindy Wilson took time off from the band, withJulee Cruise filling in for her on tour. The B-52s releasedGood Stuff in 1992 as a trio—the only album release on which Cindy Wilson was not present—and the title track reached No. 28 that August. The album made it to No. 16 in the U.S.[35] It is also the group's most overtly political album, though they had been activists and fundraisers for environmental, AIDS and animal rights causes for many years.[36]
The band had their next chart entry in 1994 when, asthe BC-52's, they appeared inThe Flintstones live-action movie and sang the title song. When released as a single, it reached No. 33 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the UK. In 1994, Pierson and Schneider also sang on the theme song for theNickelodeon seriesRocko's Modern Life, from the second season onward. In the 1990s, formerDuran Duran drummerSterling Campbell joined the band, but left in 2000 to tour withDavid Bowie and was replaced that year byZack Alford, who had recorded and toured with the band during theCosmic Thing era. Pierson and Cindy Wilson recorded a cover of theMcFadden & Whitehead song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" for the 1996 filmThe Associate, starring Whoopi Goldberg; Wilson rejoined the B-52s the same year.
A career retrospective,Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation, appeared in 1998, along with two remixed maxi-singles: "Summer of Love '98" and "Hallucinating Pluto". A major tour (with co-headlinersthe Pretenders) to promote the collection took place. "Debbie", another single from the album (a tribute toBlondie'sDebbie Harry), placed No. 35 onBillboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks.[37] In 1999, they recorded a parody of "Love Shack" called "Glove Slap" for anepisode ofThe Simpsons. In 2000, they co-headlined another major tour withthe Go-Go's and recorded the song "The Chosen One" for the moviePokémon: The Movie 2000.[38]
In 2002, a more extensive anthology,Nude on the Moon: The B-52's Anthology, was released, and in February of that year the band held a series of concerts celebrating their 25th anniversary. TheIrving Plaza show inNew York City featured Yoko Ono, as well asTina Weymouth andChris Frantz ofTalking Heads, as guests, withChicks on Speed as the opener.[39] Coinciding with the band's 25th anniversary was the publication ofThe B-52's Universe: The Essential Guide to the World's Greatest Party Band, the first and only officially authorized biography of the band. The book was nominated for a Lambda Lit Award and was a Minnesota Book Awards finalist.[citation needed] The B-52s recorded the song "Orange You Glad it's Summer" for aTarget commercial that aired in spring/summer 2002. Target also used theCosmic Thing song "Junebug" in a TV spot five years later. In late 2002, the critically panned cartoon pilot "The Groovenians" featured a theme song performed by the band.
In late 2004, the band opened forCher on a few dates of herFarewell Tour. In March 2006, they opened forthe Rolling Stones at a benefit for theRobin Hood Foundation. They had three remix EPs released by Planet Clique:Whammy! in 2005,Mesopotamia in 2006, andWild Planet in 2007. During this time span, they appeared on many television shows, includingThe L Word,V.I.P.,The Rosie O'Donnell Show,The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, theLate Show with David Letterman,The Arsenio Hall Show,Saturday Night Live,Live with Regis and Kelly,The Today Show,Good Morning America, as well as numerous times onVH1.
Prior to 2008, the band used an apostrophe in their name, rendering it as "The B-52's". In 2008, the band dropped the apostrophe to become "The B-52s".[8] Asked about the change, Pierson said "It was not grammatically correct. It's not like a possessive. It just seemed superfluous."[8]
Funplex, the band's first original album in 16 years (since 1992'sGood Stuff), was released on March 25, 2008, byAstralwerks.[40][41][42] Talking about the record's sound, Strickland noted, "It's loud, sexyrock and roll with the beat turned up to hot pink."[43] The album was produced bySteve Osborne, who was asked to work on the album based on his work withNew Order on the albumGet Ready.
The album debuted at No. 11 on theBillboard charts in the U.S., immediately making it the second-highest charting B-52s album ever. The band toured in support of the album and made appearances on talk shows, includingThe Tonight Show andThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, and performed onThe Today Show on Memorial Day 2008. They also participated in theTrue Colors Tour 2008 withCyndi Lauper and embarked on a European tour in July.
The first single from the album was "Funplex", which was released digitally on January 29, 2008, to theiTunes Store in the U.S. The second single lifted from the album was "Juliet of the Spirits".[44] Schneider said in an interview that the album just broke even and could be the B-52s' last new studio album, though he later retracted that statement.[45] The B-52s performed their hit track "Love Shack" withSugarland at the 2009CMT Music Awards.
On February 18, 2011, the B-52s played a show at theClassic Center in their hometown ofAthens, Georgia, four days after the 34th anniversary of their first-ever show on February 14, 1977. The concert was filmed and recorded forWith the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA, released in October 2011.
The group continued to perform live, with a touring band that featured musiciansSterling Campbell (drums),Paul Gordon (keyboards, guitar) andTracy Wormworth (bass), and performances included the closing show for the 2011 edition of theMontreal Jazz Festival, as well as being the house band during the 2012TV Land Awards. At the end of 2012, Strickland announced he would no longer tour with the B-52s, though he would continue as a member of the band.[46] Without Strickland, the B-52s continued to tour across the world with groups includingThe Go-Go's,[47]Tears for Fears,The English Beat,The Psychedelic Furs,Simple Minds,[48][49]Boy George and Culture Club, andThompson Twins' Tom Bailey. Aside from touring, the group covered theSquidbillies theme song during Season 10 of theAdult Swim series and appeared as guests in the sketch comedy showPortlandia.[50]
In 2019, the group announced a tour to begin in May in the United States, which took them to Europe and back to the U.S.[51] On September 30, 2019, it was reported that the band would be featured in the upcomingArchie Comics' comic bookArchie Meets the B-52s, released in February 2020.[52]
In April 2022, the group announced that they would embark on a finalfarewell tour, withKC and the Sunshine Band, lasting from August 22 to November 11, 2022.[10] The final dates of the concert were postponed until January 2023, due to illness.[53] The B-52s performed the final concert on their tour at theClassic Center in their hometown of Athens, Georgia on January 10, 2023.[54]
Following the end of the farewell tour, the B-52s embarked on residencies atThe Venetian Las Vegas inParadise, Nevada.[55] The first residency concerts took place in May, August and September 2023, with further dates scheduled for April 2024.[55][56]
On May 15, 2024, the City ofAthens, Georgia, announced that theirFederal Prospects Hockey League team would be named theRock Lobsters, honoring the band and their hit song.[57] The decision came after an online poll where the Rock Lobsters won by a wide margin. The band responded on social media, stating "we are truly honored to have our hometown hockey team named the Rock Lobsters. As the song declares, 'Let’s rock!’".[58]
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Studio albums
We are touring from mid-June to mid-July with the B-52's for a lot of the dates.
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