Famous fans say farewell to the B-52's: 'They got me to question my own prejudices'

[progressoid]

After 46 years, the Athens originals are taking off for good later this year. David Byrne, Boy George and more pay tribute to one of the most unusual pop bands ever

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Gerald Casale, Devo

The B-52’s and Talking Heads always felt like Devo’s kindred spirits. We were all unique and not very punk. The punks didn’t like us because we weren’t orthodox, and orthodoxy permeates rock’n’roll. We’d first become aware of the B-52’s through independent record stores when we were hawking our debut single. It was exciting because I knew where they were coming from, how they were grabbing from 1960s kitsch with the beehive hairdos and the theatricality of it all. It was like they’d come from their own planet. Who on earth sings about a Rock Lobster?

It was outsider stuff with a distinctive sound that was consciously slightly retro, coming from surf music and rockabilly, but not with rockabilly beats. They’d come up through the Athens, Georgia, scene and dance clubs and were in the realm of LGBTQ [music] before such a thing was identified. They were transgressive and polarising, but in a different way to Devo. I met Kate at the Mudd Club in New York in early 79 and immediately fell for her. She had the beehive, of course, because they were always in character, which I thought was fantastic.

David Byrne

We in Talking Heads became friends with the B-52’s early on. I remember they told us: “You have to see this other band from Athens playing at Danceteria – they’re called REM.” The Athens, Georgia bands were all very supportive of one another, it seemed to me.

I produced an album with the B-52’s which ended up as an EP [Mesopotamia]. I suspect they came to me because they wanted to experiment a little bit more. Maybe that’s why the LP got cut down to an EP – or maybe the other songs weren’t up to snuff? My favourite song from that record was Deep Sleep, which sounded like Young Marble Giants gone psychedelic. Ricky Wilson, who was such a large part of their sound, had Aids at that time, and was not around for many of the sessions. It was a pretty tough time for the band but they persevered and eventually revived. They were a tight family.

Jake Shears, Scissor Sisters...

Boy George...

Andy Bell, Erasure...

Marcella Puppini, the Puppini Sisters...

Will Sergeant, Echo and the Bunnymen...

etc...https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/13/famous-fans-say-farewell-to-the-b-52s-they-got-me-to-question-my-own-prejudices

[LakeArenal]

1. No others like B-52s. Three notes in on the radio and you know who it is.

[jpak]

2. Kate P is a real dear family friend

She loved my late great aunt Ruthie and visited Wayne Maine often.

And as a UGA student back in the day, I saw them every chance I got.

Saw REM the first time they played in public outside the church.

[progressoid]

3. Cool!

Just found out that she has a few interesting rental properties.

https://www.lazymeadow.com/about-us-main

[prodigitalson]

4. I am 54 years old and until now have never seen the official rock lobster video

how did that happen?