Do you like B52s? If so, what is good?

I've been watching the youtube videos (of the same vintage, i.e. 1978) for 52 Girls and Dance This Mess Around over and over and over and over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN8hV4AyNss&feature=related for the latter.

Quote from the comments that has my heart beating fast: "I'm remastering the DVD. Should be available in late Feb 08."

t/s: siouxse + the banshees vs the b-52s

hott

Funny, I just picked up the vinyl of the first album for $5 tonight. Masterful stuff. And I love Fred's restraint in using the cowbell in the Rock Lobster video from above.

Ricky Wilson shreds

That 1978 footage ain't not no limburger! The "Rock Lobster" is astounding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnU3WoQZHJE&feature=related

I just wish there was more footage of my beloved Ricky. After all, he's the motherfucker powering the thing.

Also, check out this live (and not) "Song (Theme??) for a Future Generation":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9sG_Hr2RyQ&feature=related

Fred has new likes!

I never knew until about 20 minutes ago that Kate Pierson is a lesbian. Not that it matters, except that feels like time wasted in my youth crushing on her.

Didn't know it neither. Although that's just youtube talking. May not be true. Hopefully it is. That would make their music one micron better.

I clicked around and it's seconded on Wikipedia, with links to articles in out magazines.

It's interesting that four out of the five original members of the band are (or were, in Ricky's case) openly gay. Cindy Wilson's the exception. The very obvious Fred Schneider aside, it seems odd that a big deal's never been made of it given how nuts people are about that sort of thing - both positively and negatively. Is there more successful *band* (not solo artist) that's predominately gay? I can't think of any.

But they weren't always openly gay to the public. Keith says in
this article that he didn't come out until 1992. And IIRC, Fred officially came out (to The Advocate?) around the same time by comparing himself to famous gay men throughout history.

t/s: siouxse + the banshees vs the b-52s

I was looking for that thread a couple nights ago. Love the misspelling. Thanks.

Now that I've thought about it, I'd like to add that as well as being proto-riot grrl, Cindy Wilson's vocals are also proto-Perry Farrell. I mean, listen to 'em! It's uncanny.

"Private Idaho" is flawless, as is "Planet Claire" and "52 Girls". "Rock Lobster" is slavishly overplayed but still great fun. "Party Out of Bounds" still gets me every time when Fred lets out that supergay "SUPiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiSE" like Paul Lynn from beyond the grave.

Whammy is underrated!

they really did wanna be the "son of 'Frankenstein'"

I can think of few bands whose legacy has been more diminished by the death of modern rock radio formatting than the B-52s.

I'm partial to 'Cosmic Thing' personally, mainly because it was one of the first albums that made me interested in modern rock music as a precocious 12-year-old.

Paul Lynn

Paul Lynde. Sorry to be so nitpicky. But we should need to properly honor the great homosexual men who are no longer with us, esp. on this thread.

Point taken. Apologies.

Mesopotamia is WAY underrated!

so when is their new album coming out? And is it foolish to expect anything out of it?

February 19th, I think. The first single gets digitally released on Tuesday, and as far as I know it hasn't leaked anywhere, so I have no idea if it's any good.

It is the 30th anniversary of the band now, so wondering if there are going to be the eventual reissues coming out.