An Exclusive Interview with Kate Pierson of The B-52s, on Her New Album: Guitars and Microphones!

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

As one of the founding members of The B-52s, Kate Pierson’s career has been an exciting and influential one to say the least. Forming in 1976, the quirky Athens, GA-based quintet released their debut album three years later and ignited a retro-fied New Wave movement with the single “Rock Lobster.” Though many critics thought the single and the band would be quickly forgotten, both have become synonymous with good times and great music. Nearly four decades later, no club party is complete without spinning “Rock Lobster” and watching the dancefloor go wild – it is an exhilarating sight to see. However, “Rock Lobster” does not define who The B-52s are. Yes, they are one of the greatest ‘party’ bands ever, but they also wrote some other great tunes along the way including “Planet Claire,” “Private Idaho,” “Party Out Of Bounds,” “Roam,” “Deadbeat Club,” “Give Me Back My Man,” and “Summer Of Love.” And let’s not forget the enormously successful “Love Shack,” a massive hit that reintroduced the band to a new generation a decade after “Rock Lobster”! Thankfully, The B-52s – Pierson, Fred Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland – are still touring and raising the roof everywhere they go. They don’t record quite as often as fans would prefer, but when they do release new music, they never disappoint.