The B-52s
| The B-52s | |
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The B-52s at Festival Internacional de Benicàssim on July 9, 2008. From left to right: Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson, and Fred Schneider.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Athens, Georgia, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | theb52s |
| Members | |
| Past members | |
The B-52s (styled as The B-52's prior to 2008) are an American new wave band, formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976 and one of the only quintessential 1980s bands that have survived to date. Their best selling songs have been Love Shack and Roam while Rock Lobster remains a well-known hit. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider (lead vocals), Kate Pierson (backing vocals, keyboards), Cindy Wilson (backing vocals, percussion), Ricky Wilson (lead guitar), and Keith Strickland (drums, rhythm guitar, keyboards). After Ricky Wilson's death from AIDS in 1985, Strickland switched from drums to lead guitar. The band also added touring members for albums and live performances.
Rooted in new wave and 1960s rock and roll, the group later covered many genres, ranging from post-punk to pop rock. The "guy vs. gals" vocals of Schneider, Pierson, and Wilson, sometimes used in call and response style, and their unique guitar and keyboard driven instrumentation, are their trademark sound.
The B-52's were formed in 1976 when backing vocalist Cindy Wilson, her older brother and guitarist Ricky, keyboardist and backing vocalist Kate Pierson, original drummer and percussionist Keith Strickland and cowbell player, poet and lead vocalist Fred Schneider held an impromptu jam session after sharing a tropical Flaming volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant in Athens, Georgia. Other ideas they had to name their band were the "Tina-Trons" and "Felini's Children." When they first jammed, Strickland played guitar and Wilson played congas. They later played their first concert (with Wilson playing guitar) in 1977 at a Valentine's Day party for their friends.
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