The B-52's

• Kate Pierson - vocals, keyboards
• Fred Schneider - vocals, keyboards
• Keith Strickland - drums

Although they lost any credibility they might’ve had when they recorded the theme for ‘The Flintstones’ movie in 1994, their career spanning almost 30 years (yes, THIRTY) has more than earned them the title of kings and queens of campy cartoon pop, long before the Scissor Sisters thought about having a go.

Formed Athens, Georgia in 1976, they were Fred Schneider (vocals), Kate Pierson (vocals/keys), Keith Strickland (drums, guitar/keys), Cindy Wilson (vocals) and brother Ricky (guitar). They set out to be a good-time party band, mixing ‘60s pop, rock’n’roll, new wave, and odd lyrics.

In 1979, Island Records signed the band and re-released their debut single, the lengthy Rock Lobster, a space-age rock’n’roll tune with spiky guitar, eerie organ and Fred yelping while the girls warbled. It set the blueprint for their soon-to-be instantly recognisable sound and it became an instant classic. Their eponymous album was released the same year.

Wild Planet followed the next year with the formula much the same. 1982’s Mesopotamia had producer David Byrne’s influence all over it, but the hugely underrated Whammy! (1983), containing nearly-hit Song For A Future Generation, was a commercial flop.

Ricky tragically died of AIDS in 1985, putting the band’s future in doubt. They tried to bounce back with Bouncing Off The Satellites (1987) but it was another flop. While many had written off the band by this point, something big was on the way…

Love Shack saw their surprise comeback on a huge scale and it still remains an easy dance-floor filler in any kind of club you wish to throw it at. Produced by Don Was, Nile Rodgers and former Gang Of Four bassist Sara Lee, it came from 1989’s Cosmic Thing, which also produced the hit Roam. Kate kept up their commercial high-point by lending her soaring vocals two years later to REM’s monster hit Shiny Happy People. It was, however, this time which saw Cindy leave the band. Fighting in the face of adversity once more, the 3-piece recruited some guest musicians and produced Good Stuff in 1992. Despite the album’s consequent success, their output since then has been quiet to say the least. There’s been the aforementioned Flintstones tune and two new songs added to their Greatest Hits collection, Time Capsule (which also saw Cindy rejoin the band for the occasion). They toured with The Pretenders in 1998, and still do the occasional tour these days although they’re rarely spotted in the UK. A short tour and Glastonbury appearance was booked then subsequently cancelled in 2003.

Fortunately that looks set to change: Fred has revealed there is a new B-52s album planned for release this year. At last! Hurrah!

adie nunn, january 2005