- Collection:
- New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Title:
- The B-52's
- Creator:
- Gordon, Stephanie L.
- Date of Original:
- 2003-09-17
- Subject:
- B-52's (Musical group)
Musicians--Georgia--Athens
Bands (Music)--Georgia--Athens
Rock groups--Georgia--Athens
Rock musicians--Georgia--Athens
Women musicians--Georgia--Athens
Singers--Georgia--Athens
Women singers--Georgia--Athens
Entertainers--Georgia--Athens
Women entertainers--Georgia--Athens
Wilson, Cindy, 1957-
Schneider, Fred, 1951-
Pierson, Kate
Strickland, Keith, 1953-
Wilson, Ricky, 1953-1985 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Clarke County, Athens, 33.96095, -83.37794
- Medium:
- articles
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
- Description:
- Encyclopedia article about the Athens, Georgia-based band the B-52s. Quirky, lively, and original, the B-52's formed in the late 1970s, and they remain one of Athens's best-known bands. Named for the bomb-shaped bouffant hairdos of the two female band members, the group debuted at a Valentine's Day party in Athens in 1977 and before long were performing in New York City, where they attained a cultlike status. Initially the members of the group--Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson, and Ricky Wilson--had little or no musical experience, but their campy stage image, walkie talkies, exaggerated wigs, go-go boots, and thrift shop clothing, along with such oddly engaging songs as "Private Idaho" and "Planet Claire," made them the talk of the postpunk scene. After gaining a following in New York and signing a record deal with Warner Brothers, the B-52's moved to the city. Their first album, The B-52's (1979), sold more than 500,000 copies, mostly on the strength of their dance party classics "Rock Lobster" and "52 Girls."
- Metadata URL:
- https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/the-b-52s/
- Language:
- eng
- Additional Rights Information:
- If you wish to use content from the NGE site for commercial use, publication, or any purpose other than fair use as defined by law, you must request and receive written permission from the NGE. Such requests may be directed to: Permissions/NGE, University of Georgia Press, 330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602.
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: "The B-52's," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved [date]: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.
- Original Collection:
- System requirements: Quicktime plug-in required for audio and video clips.
Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia. - Holding Institution:
- New Georgia Encyclopedia (Project)
- Rights:
-
