We Help You Hire, Book and Produce a B-52s Performance
Hire The B-52s for Your Event
Celebrity Direct Inc. will help you select, book and hire The B-52s to perform at your corporate event, non-profit event or private performance.
We are always uniquely positioned as your advocate throughout the hiring process and we won’t let you overpay.
Contact us for availability, price and other production details at:
212-521-4115 Tell Us About Your Event
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The B-52s Songs
- “Love Shack”
- “Roam”
- “Rock Lobster”
- “Private Idaho”
- “Party Out Of Bounds”
- “Wig”
- “Legal Tender”
- “Mesopotamia“
- “Planet Claire“
- “Good Stuff”
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The B-52s Bio
The B-52s stripped-down, off-kilter funk, topped by chirpy vocals and lyrics crammed with ’50s and ’60s trivia – garnered such a large following at dance clubs and colleges that the band’s debut album sold 500,000 copies despite minimal airplay. Named for the tall bouffant hairdos worn onstage by the two female members, the group claims that it originated in a jam session under the influence of tropical drinks. Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Keith Strickland had minimal previous performing experience; the Wilson siblings had none. The B-52’s debuted at a Valentine’s Day party in 1977 in the college town of Athens, Georgia; they originally performed with taped guitar and drum parts, but they preferred the sound when someone accidentally pulled the plug on the tape recorder.
Their first “official” gig was at Max’s Kansas City. They soon attracted a New York cult, partly thanks to their stage image: miniskirts, go-go boots, toy instruments, and demonstrations of such dance steps as the Camel Walk and the Shy Tuna. They pressed 2,000 copies of the single “Rock Lobster,” which sold out rapidly, before signing in early 1979 to Warner Bros. Their debut album sold steadily as the band toured the U.S. and Europe. Wild Planet, which hit #18 in 1980, was even more successful, and songs from it reappeared in remixed, more danceable versions on the Party Mix EP. For 1982’s MesopotamiaEP, the B-52’s collaborated with producer David Byrne of Talking Heads, who brought in backup musicians to broaden the sound. Whammy! was a Top 30 LP, boosted by the singles “Legal Tender” and “Song for a Future Generation.” The accompanying videos captured the group’s trademark retro American style. Drummer Ricky Wilson’s death from AIDS in 1985 made it impossible for the group to tour or promote Bouncing Off the Satellites.
Nearly four years passed before the B-52’s returned with their most successful release, the double-platinum Cosmic Thing(#4, 1989). With Keith Strickland moving from drums to lead guitar, the B-52’s seemed to strike the perfect balance between their stylistic idiosyncrasies and a four-on-the-floor drive with “Love Shack” (#3, 1990); other hit singles from the Don Was–and Nile Rodgers–produced LP included “Roam” (#3, 1990) and “Deadbeat Club” (#30, 1990). In 1990 Cindy Wilson started a family and left the group (Julee Cruise filled in on tour), which continued as a trio on Good Stuff (#16, 1992). Concurrently Kate Pierson appeared on Iggy Pop’s hit single “Candy.” (She had previously sung on R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.”) Calling themselves the B.C. 52’s, the band recorded “(Meet) the Flintstones” (#33) for the 1994 film version of The Flintstones. Cindy Wilson returned for the ensuing concert appearances.
Time Capsule contained songs spanning two decades of the B-52’s’ existence, as well as two new tracks. A tour with the Pretenders followed. Schneider, who had previously recorded a campy, cheerfully smutty album with the Shake Society (its delightful single “Monster” warned of what lurked inside Fred’s pants), released his second solo album in 1996. Just…Fred, produced by ex–Big Black noise master Steve Albini, was a radical departure, featuring aggressive surfabilly backing by members of such indie grind-punks as the Didjits, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Tar.
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Contact The B-52s Manager or Agent | You May Ask?
How can I hire The B-52s for a corporate event, non-profit or charity event or private performance? How much does The B-52s cost for a performance, a song, an appearance at an event, party or convention ending gala? What kind of budget would I need for a B-52s performance at our event? How can I find out if The B-52s is available for our event date? How do I contact The B-52s’ manager? How do I contact The B-52s’ agent?
We can answer all your questions.
Contact our National Booking Office at 212 521-4115 or send us your questions via email to hire The B-52s.
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Why Celebrity Direct Inc.
Direct Source for Celebrity Performers We are the industry leader in celebrity talent buying and production for corporate events. We work on your behalf to hire the best possible celebrity for your budget and we are uniquely positioned as your advocate in the booking process so you never overpay.
Corporate & Non-Profit Events and Private Performances We are dedicated to private performances, not publicly ticketed events, and we are the experts in this highly specialized entertainment market.
Complete Turn-Key Production Nationwide Event planners work with us in several ways, either choosing from a menu of our services or asking us to produce a show delivered completely turn-key at your event nationwide.
