B-52s... good documentary/book on them?

So what do people here think of "Mesopotamia"? It seems like it was some form of aborted grander experiment of an album that could have been absolutely amazing. I love most of the EP, but seeing David Byrne's credits there, I wonder if there was some conscious effort on his part to try and use the B-52s as a vehicle to compete against Tom Tom Club, as it was the most straightfowardly beaty/weird/funky/"phat" thing that bears his credits that comes to mind. Then again, I know little of the history of those sessions, so perhaps Bryne only figures in as a last-minute saviour of the sessions and nothing more.

I couldn't figure out which thread to bump for their final tour of Earth, but the article also says there is a documentary film coming next year.

I'm sad it's coming to an end, as all good things must, but they've had an incredibly long and successful run.

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/b52s-farewell-tour-dates-1235240993/

They sing on a new Miranda Lambert track.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out!

I was kind of wondering about this - I thought they had announced their final tour several years ago, but then it was either amended or clarified as being just their final European tour. Even then, to me at least there was the implication that they were winding things down. Then the pandemic hit, and I wondered if that might prematurely end everything.

I hope Keith joins them on this final go round, but I'm guessing that's a long shot. They still put on a good show when I saw them in 2019 - lots of fun - so definitely catch them while you can.

I saw something about this on Twitter, kinda hit me in the gut a little.

On Facebook, damn it Elon

I really want to see them one last time. Closest they get to me is Chicago. I saw them 6 times all told: twice in the early club days, twice on the Cosmic Thing tour, in the 90s with The Pretenders, and in 2003 on the state fair circuit. So it's been close to 20 years since the last time.

I can add here that Annie Zaleski, who wrote the very great 33 1/3 on Duran Duran's Rio, is doing a B-52s book next and that'll be a great read for sure.

Party Out Of Bounds is a great book. I'll be looking forward to Annie's as it sounds more focused on the band specifically.

the concert promo pic has no keith damnit but at least we'll get tracy wormworth on bass

I know they've been working on a box set since before the pandemic (which is amusing in light of the Portlandia skit). Hopefully that's out soon.

Keith retired from touring in 2012 (I know this because of Wikipedia).

The first part of Grace Elizabeth Hale's Cool Town is good on their origin story and early years before their move out of Athens. There's also a 2002 book by Mats Sexton, The B-52's Universe, but I've never seen a copy.

I have the Sexton book. He's local, and I went to the release/signing. The graphic design is really nice, but it doesn't really contain any details that aren't commonly known/found elsewhere, and does contain a few factual errors concerning gig history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEIvE434kS0

Legendary party band The B-52s are set to embark on their “Farewell Tour” this summer. As a preview, the group appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night to perform their signature song, “Love Shack.”

It pains me so much to say this, but except for a couple of those trademark harmonies, their voices seem tired and the band is limp.

as a lifelong fan that has seen them many times, i have to say that cindy has always sung badly and forgotten lyrics live. its part of her charm!

Wow, had no idea. Cindy sung one number solo at the Summerstage show and she sounded great.

she has good and bad nights!

LOL got it. Even Fred sounded good and he was cranky and complaining about random stuff.

They've been doing farewell tours, official and heavily rumored, at least since right before "Love Shack" brought 'em back, so maybe this will be a Cher/LDS Sound System fake-out---hell, even the Judds are going around again.

Their last album, Funplex in 2008, is surprisingly really good. I've heard good things about the live album (With the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA) recorded and released in 2011 but haven't gotten around to checking it out.

I just noticed, With the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA got a DVD and Blu-ray release as well. I imagine it must be streaming somewhere in HD.

Video release has three extra tracks, too (Dancing Now, Deadbeat Club, and Strobe Light)