Texarkana Gazette

B-52s are touring on their 40th anniversar­y—sort of

- By John Carucci

NEW YORK—The B-52s are celebratin­g their 40th anniversar­y this year. But they also may celebrate it next year. That is, if they haven’t already hit the milestone.

There’s no fuzzy math here—it’s a just matter of which date adequately represents the origin of the band, which began in Athens, Ga.

Vocalist Fred Schneider considers 2018 as their ruby anniversar­y. “This is 40 years since our first single came out,” Schneider said. That was the year they released the song, “Rock Lobster.”

The band’s other vocalist, Kate Pierson, interprets their anniversar­y a bit more liberally.

“We started in 1976 jamming and we played our first show on Valentine’s Day 1977, so we can mark 40 from there or we can mark 40 from 1979 when we did our first record.”

Then she added: “It’s flexible. We’re milking the 40 anniversar­y because it’s flexible.”

While the actual date may be a “Cosmic Thing”—just as the title of their fifth album and hit song—there’s no discrepanc­y that their reputation as “the world’s greatest party band” has thrived since the late 1970s.

Yet, while their sound remained upbeat, the band had some dark days, most notably the death of founding member Ricky Wilson, who succumbed to AIDS in 1985. He is the older brother of vocalist Cindy Wilson.

“... Ricky’s death in 1985 was definitely a point where we thought we wouldn’t go on,” Pierson said.

Instead, they rebounded with “Cosmic Thing,” and scored their most successful album, and biggest hit single, “Love Shack” in 1989.

 ?? Associated Press ?? ■ Kate Pierson, left, and Fred Schneider, of The B-52s, pose for a portrait to promote their 40th anniversar­y.
Associated Press ■ Kate Pierson, left, and Fred Schneider, of The B-52s, pose for a portrait to promote their 40th anniversar­y.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States