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The Story of the B-52s: Neon Side of Town is the first critical history of one of the most legendary and influential bands in American popular music. Locating The B-52s in the intellectual climate of their hometown of Athens, GA and following the band from New York's downtown scene in the early 1980s to their upcoming farewell tour, the book argues that The B-52s are much more significant political and musical influences on American society than their reputation as a silly party band suggests, and that their ongoing commitment to values including cooperation, mutual support, and using disruptive fun as a form of social change are an antidote to the neoliberalization sweeping both Athens and the rest of the Western world. For example, the book shows how the band synthesized influences from the modern artists displayed at the University of Georgia art museum, early queer activism on campus in the 1970s, and their experiences as queer people living through the AIDS crisis to create music that continues to be artistically and politically influential today. The authors are active members of the Athens, GA music scene, and the book includes original interviews with a range of number close to the band.
List of contents
1. Neon.- 2. Athens: Pre-52s.- 3. Deadbeats.- 4. NYC.- 5. The B-52s.- 6. Wild Planet.- 7. Mesopotamia.- 8. Whammy.- 9. Satellites.- 10. Cosmic Thing.- 11. Good Stuff.- 12 Aftershocks.
About the author
Scott Creney is author of the work of creative nonfiction Dear Al-Qaeda: Letters to the World’s Most Notorious Terror Organization (Black Ocean). They have written about music, books, and film for Clash Music, The Fanzine, Collapse Board, and Ablaze!, among others, and contributed six entries to 101 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear. Scott was also the bass player for the Athens band Tunabunny.
Brigette Adair Herron holds a Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia and is author/co-author of numerous peer reviewed academic articles and a scholarly monograph. Her writing on music has been featured in the book 101 Albums You Should Die Before You Hear, and on the web publications Collapse Board, Vice, and Eldredge Atlanta. She is a multi-instrumentalist with a long history in the Athens music scene.
Summary
The Story of the B-52s: Neon Side of Town is the first critical history of one of the most legendary and influential bands in American popular music. Locating The B-52s in the intellectual climate of their hometown of Athens, GA and following the band from New York’s downtown scene in the early 1980s to their upcoming farewell tour, the book argues that The B-52s are much more significant political and musical influences on American society than their reputation as a silly party band suggests, and that their ongoing commitment to values including cooperation, mutual support, and using disruptive fun as a form of social change are an antidote to the neoliberalization sweeping both Athens and the rest of the Western world. For example, the book shows how the band synthesized influences from the modern artists displayed at the University of Georgia art museum, early queer activism on campus in the 1970s, and their experiences as queer people living through the AIDS crisis to create music that continues to be artistically and politically influential today. The authors are active members of the Athens, GA music scene, and the book includes original interviews with a range of number close to the band.
Additional text
“The Story of The B-52s is an accessible, thoroughly-researched and joyous ode to such a significant group deserving of analysis; it’s a book that colourfully captures the vibrancy and compelling eccentricity of a group who masterfully made being in a band look effortless.” (buzz, buzzmag.co.uk, June 29, 2023)
“Profiles of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson, and Keith Strickland are all given respectful and immense credit in a book that B-52s fans will consider a must-have addition to their libraries.”(Jim Piechota, The Bay Area Reporter, ebar.com, June 20, 2023)
Report
"The Story of The B-52s is an accessible, thoroughly-researched and joyous ode to such a significant group deserving of analysis; it's a book that colourfully captures the vibrancy and compelling eccentricity of a group who masterfully made being in a band look effortless." (buzz, buzzmag.co.uk, June 29, 2023)
"Profiles of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson, and Keith Strickland are all given respectful and immense credit in a book that B-52s fans will consider a must-have addition to their libraries."(Jim Piechota, The Bay Area Reporter, ebar.com, June 20, 2023)
