The B-52s began at an impromptu jam session at a Chinese restaurant in the late 70s at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. And what an impressive career they put together over the years.
The original early 70s lineup consisted of Ricky Wilson (guitars, bass), and Keith Strickland (drums, guitars, keyboards, Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion, keyboards), Kate Pierson (organ, keyboards, bass, vocals), and Cindy Wilson (vocals, bongos, tambourine). The band lost Ricky to AIDs at the age of 32, becoming an ardent supporter of AIDS research and the AIDS foundation.
Their name B-52s is derived from the fact the girls liked the beehive hairdos, and the boys in the band though it resembled the WWII fighter plane.
Their biggest single of course is “Rock Lobster,” but the real genius is the charming and exciting on stage presence of the ‘boys vs. the girls’ vibe that make them a highly sought act for concerts and outdoor events.
In August the B-52s will be in Costa Mesa and San Diego, CA, while in early September they will be in the Northeast areas of Lenox, Lowell and Boston. MA.