Fall Frenzy B52's

The B-52's

Friday, September 18th 7:15PM - 8:30PM

Interview with Keith Strickland, Guitar player and composer

The B-52s have been around for over 30 years, so you guys have seen it all. Tell us how your music has evolved over time in accordance with the times, and what you envision the next album sounding like:

I haven't put a lot of thought into the next album at this time. There are a few ideas running through my mind: I might hear something that sparks an idea or whatever. But definitely there are things I learn from any project that I wish were done differently. You never quite arrive at that place of perfection; there's always a sense of becoming. As a musician- it's very common with musicians and songwriters- you are always trying to arrive at some place but you never do. It's a continuous journey, and always about experimentation. From day one, we just happened upon the sound. It wasn't thought out, it just occurred. Over the years we played around with different things. When we played many years back, the first recording sounded so stripped down; I was just horrified. We had been playing clubs for years; it was loud and there was a lot of clashing around, and the acoustics were usually horrible. Then we went into the studio and it sounded clinical and too clean. There were no buzzes, no extemporaneous sounds. I didn't know we sounded like that, but that was the studio. Now, in retrospect, it was a brilliant recording, and I was happy that it was documented. By the second album, we filled out the holes more. Over the years we experimented more, and with Cosmic Thing, the production got pretty slick.

New album Funplex is quintessential B-52s, in that the chemistry and party fun is still so evident, but there is a faster, maybe busier feel to the music. Tell us about how it came to be:

The motivation for Funplex was born out of performing; we needed to have new material. The kind of songs we went for we knew we could perform live, and would fit in well with our other songs. I have been listening to a lot of electronic dance music. The New Order album Get Ready, I thought, 'Oh, that's it'. I really like dance music, but rock 'n roll too. I wanted to put them together. That would be something I would enjoy trying; it was a jumping off point for me. It's a real gift for me because I write the music, and they (Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, and Fred Schneider) write lyrics, harmonies and melodies. Their voices are so distinctive, it gives me free reign to go off in other directions. It's different, but their voices are so distinctive that it stays the same. When a band starts out, they have success and establish a fan base because of some recognizable songs, so we want to keep our fan base intact but we also want to expand and experiment. It's a matter of how you maintain both worlds.

The B52s have had both mainstream and underground success: What do you enjoy about today's radio music, and what do you not like so much? What underground movements or bands do you see emerging into the mainstream in the near future?

I don't listen to mainstream radio really. I'll go to iTunes, get on a tag or pathway, and enjoy doing things like that, or reading an article on some group. I remember ten years ago, hearing bands like the Hives, Junior Senior, Kings of Leon; groups I identified with, felt a kinship with, that shared an irreverent sense of humor... bands like Pony Club, MGMT. I knew they had a lot to offer. There is exciting stuff out there, talented musicians and song writers. It's unfortunate how so much good music gets lost in the promotional machine. It's all about money, not about creativity. The whole environment has changed, access to music has changed, there is an upheaval, and it's to be expected that artists will get lost in shuffle. There is a lot of bad stuff, but a lot of good stuff too. I love YouTube.com: some kid at home can post a video and make a huge impression. To be in a movement, to create a 'scene' is much harder today. The whole punk thing was changing when we started, so we hit it at just the right time.

What would the name of an epic, slow B52s ballad be, and what would it be about?

We actually did have one, kind of tongue and cheek, called 'The River', not to be confused with Bruce Springsteen's song. It was a slow, plodding, dreary song. The inspiration came from Fred. It was about all these things floating down river, like pianos and portraits and high heel shoes... it was a metaphor for, oh I don't know, throwing it all away. It was way depressing, more like a dirge than a ballad. We recorded it in jam form, but it was too 'out there' for commercial success.

Word Association: What thoughts come to mind when you hear the following?

Athens- Hot corner

Longevity- Impermanent

Romance- Illusions

Fill in the blanks:

My ideal 'Love Shack' would definitely have to include a __________ and a _________, and the only way I would give you directions is if you ________.

Juke box, dance floor, promised to buy me a beer.

Anything you'd like to say to your Phoenix fans?

Thank you for all your support! We couldn't do it without our fans. I know that's cliché, but it's true. We never forget that; there is a lot of gratitude.