The B-52s

**Buried Alien** · 11-01-2006, 10:22 PM

Any other fans of the weirdest New Wave band to ever come out of Georgia?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

**Jonathan Bogart** · 11-01-2006, 10:32 PM

What about R.E.M.?

But seriously, I dig the Bee-Fifs. The pop-cultural detritus of the 50s and early 60s that they both embody and mock holds no appeal for me, so it's only on the basis of their music -- a wonderfully naive mashup of surf music, dance-craze music á là "The Twist," and trashy bubblegum punk -- that I'm fond of them. "Rock Lobster" is one of the great calling cards of the New Wave revolution, and "Love Shack" has found its niche as a superbly fun party song, especially if you want to hear dozens of people shout in unison, "Your tin roof! ... Rusted!"

**the film freak** · 11-01-2006, 10:43 PM

I like em. Not a diehard fan but I dug them.

**Motormouse** · 11-02-2006, 12:52 AM

Not a massive fan, but "Monster In My Pants" always reminds me of a fantastic holiday that i had in the greek islands when i was in my early 20's! Plus, you can never really hate a band that's that happy:)

**howyadoin** · 11-02-2006, 01:38 AM

Not much of a fan, but I always thought the redhead was kinda hot.

**the film freak** · 11-02-2006, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by howyadoin

Not much of a fan, but I always thought the redhead was kinda hot.

I went out with a girl who sort of looked like her. Sadly no second date.

**howyadoin** · 11-02-2006, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by the film freak

I went out with a girl who sort of looked like her. Sadly no second date.

That's an awesome story.

**Shellhead** · 11-02-2006, 08:17 AM

I like their hits, especially Love Shack and Roam. Then again, I'm a sucker for nearly every album that Don Was produced. Also, I really enjoyed Kate Pierson's work on R.E.M.'s Out of Time album.

**Ontir** · 11-02-2006, 09:07 AM

I really love this band. The first time I heard/saw them, I'd snuck back downstairs to watch Saturday Night Live, I was still a kid, and they scared the hell out of me with Rock Lobster, I'd never heard or seen anything like that before, and I've been a fan ever since.

When Ricky died, it was incredibly sad. It was the early days of AIDS, which was still something that people didn't say if they could avoid it. In fact I think that when he died it had only just gone from GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) to AIDS. He was obviously ill during the recording of that last album, and they begged him to take some time off, and come back when he felt better; but he wouldn't. They finished the album, and one video, then he died.

While they knew he was sick, nobody, not even his sister knew he was terminally ill, and they were all devastated. The album was released, along with the video for Summer of Love; but the band was in no position to tour, or do much of anything to support the album, and it looked like the end. A few years later, Kate and Cindy were visiting Kieth, where he was beginning work on a solo album. They began jamming on what turned into Love Shack. They got Fred in, and the B-52s were back in action, with what became their biggest commercial hit of their careers.

After that, Cindy chose to stay at home with her husband and kids, and the 3 remaining brought in Julie Cruise, who did a wonderful job on the Inter-Dimensional TourGasm; but the album wasn't as good. Since then, they've been little more than an occasional novelty act.

A few years ago, my ex was playing their Time Capsule: Songs For a Future Generation, and I got all nostalgic, listening to the wonderful take on Summer of Love. It struck me that this song and video were the last thing that Ricky Wilson had ever done as a performer, and the idea that he'd be trying to create a "summer of love" for the world while dying himself seems rather moving, and a great parting wish.

**scratchie** · 11-02-2006, 09:12 AM

Their first album is a masterpiece, deserving to be discussed in the same breath as Exile on Main Street or Kid A. I like their later hits but they were never the same after they lost Ricky Wilson.

**Ontir** · 11-02-2006, 09:27 AM

My favourite song remains the David Byrne produced Mesopotamia. I still think Cosmic Thing is a great album; but it's far more pop than their earlier work.

**rick** · 11-02-2006, 10:37 PM

They were great fun, and I really like most of their music, but especially the early new wave stuff.

Planet Claire, the first song off the first album is still probably my all time favorite of their songs.

**Ontir** · 11-03-2006, 01:05 AM

Quiche Lorraine

"Has anybody seen
a dog dyed dark green
about 2 inches tall
with a strawberry blonde fall

Sunglasses & a bonnet
designer jeans w/appliques on it..."