Kate Pierson Gets Married

Via the Daily Mail:

Kate Pierson, co-founder of the new wave party band The B-52s, has married her longtime lover Monica Coleman in Hawaii. The 67-year-old singer/songwriter took to her Facebook page on Tuesday to share photos of her and her new wife with the caption: ‘#itsofficial!’ A series of snaps show the happy couple post-ceremony as they don chic wedding gowns with Pierson’s in pink with a elegant Victorian style. A rep for Pierson told E! News: "The wedding was attended by the entire B-52s band, Sia Furler and husband Erik Anders Lang were the witnesses. Sia performed the song she wrote for the couple Crush Me With You Love on Pierson's first solo album Guitars and Microphones and was accompanied by the famous Hawaii music group the Lim Family who serenaded the attendees during the event. Fred Schneider made the best man speech."

RELATED: B-52s member Keith Strickland married his longtime boyfriend in Key West shortly after Florida legalized same-sex marriage in January.

Kate Pierson - Bottoms Up

This is the third track to be unveiled from her forthcoming album Guitars And Microphones, which is due out on February 17th. (The first two tracks were Mister Sister and Bring Your Arms.) This one was co-written by Sia and Nick Valensi of The Stokes, who also provides the guitar work.

Kate Pierson - Mister Sister

Via Stereogum:

B-52s singer Kate Pierson has announced her debut solo album and released a video for the lead single. Guitars And Microphones was executive produced by Sia, who collaborated with Pierson on the songwriting. Tim Anderson produced the album, and the Strokes’ Nick Valensi plays on it. Lead single “Mister Sister” is a trans anthem that updates Pierson’s signature sound with a modern sheen; given that so much current music hearkens back to the B-52s’ 80s heyday, it’s interesting to see her style boomerang around like this. Fred Armisen appears in the video, which was directed by Monica Coleman.

Monica Coleman is Pierson's partner of 11 years. The album is due in February and Mister Sister is on sale at iTunes today.

(Tipped by JMG reader John)

The Superions - Konnichiwa

Via press release:

Fred Schneider, frontman of the iconic party band The B-52s (Love Shack, Roam, Rock Lobster) along with his brethren Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall have just released their newest hit single Konnichiwa. Konnichiwa is the first in a series of singles by The Superions from their forthcoming album Superionicus. Konnichiwa is a lesson in linguistics that will have you fluent in no time. From Mandarin-Chinese to German, Konnichiwa has got you covered. Who needs Rosetta Stone when all you have to do is listen to Konnichiwa...over and over and over again.

Get it on iTunes.

Fred Schneider For PETA: Don't Eat Rock Lobsters (Or Crabs Either)

June 19th At NYC's Roseland Ballroom

Obviously timed for gay pride, the B-52s and the Go-Go's play Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom on June 19th as part of a joint tour that has yet to confirm any other dates, although ten other cities are on the TBD roster. Tickets for the NYC date are already on sale. This is the first tour for the B-52s without guitarist Keith Strickland.

HomoQuotable - Keith Strickland

"Dear friends, I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be touring with the band. This has not been an easy decision for me to make, but it is the path I know in my heart I must follow. I will continue to be in The B-52s... I will just not tour. My barnstorming days have come to an end, but I wholeheartedly support Cindy, Fred and Kate's decision to continue. It has been an amazing journey and I'm amazed at all that we have accomplished as a band over the past thirty-five years. I'm grateful for the music Ricky, Cindy, Fred, Kate and myself have created together. I'm thankful for the many opportunities I've had to perform, and I'm filled with gratitude for your continued presence, love and support - together we made something wonderful happen. Even though I will miss performing with the band and for you, I am looking forward to this new adventure. Follow your bliss. - B-52s guitarist Keith Strickland, in a message posted to the band's Facebook page. (Tipped by JMG reader Will)

Ricky Wilson Was A Pisces And He Liked Computers And Hot Tamales

Supersonic Female

Debbie Harry turns 67 today. And Fred Schneider turns 61. Therefore here's the B-52's 1998 tribute to the "queen of the underground." (There's a stupid ad first because the clip isn't on YouTube.)

C-Lo Green & B-52s - Cho Cha

(Source)

The Superions - Crummy Christmas Tree

The Orlando-based Superions are a side project from B-52's frontman Fred Schneider. Their holiday album Destination: Christmas is now on sale.

UPDATE: JMG reader Hightemp suggests you might like this one better. I do.

Ricky Wilson

It was 25 years ago today that B-52s guitarist Ricky Wilson died of AIDS. Ricky was a Pisces and he loved computers and hot tamales.

UPDATE: JMG reader John tips us to this song Cindy Wilson wrote for her brother.

Dedicated To The U.S. Senate

(Tipped by JMG reader Fritz)

B-52s Planning Live Album

There's a great interview with B-52s member Fred Schneider over at the A.V. Club in which he reveals that the band is working on a live album to be culled from four live shows in Australia. A lot of the interview is about Fred's new Orlando-based band, The Superions, but there's also a lot of stuff about the early years of the B's (which hardcore fans like me already knew.) It's hard to believe it's already been five years since I went to their 25th anniversary show at Irving Plaza.

The Superions (Feat. Fred Schneider) Who Threw That Ham At Me?

Hot Gay Singles

Two hot new singles from gay artists are out this week. First, Blowoff DJ and remix king Rich Morel has just released his take on Alan Cumming's Next To Me, which is from Cumming's new album, I Bought A Blue Car Today. Now available on iTunes. Another typically fantastic Pink Noise Mix from Rich. And B-52s frontman Fred Schneider has a new side project called The Superions, whose first single Who Threw That Ham At Me is also now available on iTunes. Snippet here. Fun, fun, fun and Paula Deen too. Below is Clip #1 in a YouTube series of fan questions fielded by the Superions.

80's Flashback

Fred Schneider & The Shake Society, Monster, 1984. Fred's only solo hit, Monster includes B-girl Kate Pierson on vocals and P-Funk legend Bernie Worrell on keyboards. Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club member Tina Weymouth and artist Keith Haring both do cameo appearances in this clip. (Can anybody ID the drag queen?) The rest of this album wasn't so great, other than the duet with Patti Labelle, It's Time To Kiss. But it was a nice interruption of the long dry spell between Whammy and Bouncing Off The Satellites.

Ten Seconds Of Love From The B-52s

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of Fly Life, this week's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to the True Colors Tour starring Cyndi Lauper, the B-52s, Andy Bell, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Deborah Cox, Joan Jett, Joan Armatrading, the Cliks, the Indigo Girls, Nona Hendryx, and others.

Here's a video clip of Cyndi inviting you to the 26-date tour, which kicks off in Boston on May 31st and finishes at Colorado's legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 5th. Check out the artist lineup for the show nearest you because it changes from date to date.

The winning tickets are good nationwide and may be redeemed for any show on the tour. Enter to win by commenting on this post. Please only comment once and remember to leave an email address that you check frequently. Entries will close at midnight PST. Publicists: if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

True Colors '08 Tour Dates

The 2008 True Colors Tour lineup includes Cyndi Lauper, the B-52s, Andy Bell, Rosie O'Donnell, Joan Jett, the Indigo Girls, Deborah Cox, Wanda Sykes, the Cliks, Nona Hendrix, and others.

05.31.08 Boston MA US Bank of America Pavilion
06.01.08 Wantagh NY US Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
06.03.08 New York US NY Radio City Music Hall
06.04.08 Toronto ON CA Molson Amphitheatre
06.06.08 Mashantucket CT US Foxwoods Casino
06.07.08 Washington DC US DAR Constitution Hall
06.09.08 Minneapolis MN US US Bank Theater
06.10.08 Chicago IL US Chicago Theatre
06.11.08 Clarkston MI US DTE Energy Music Theatre
06.13.08 Atlantic City NJ US Borgata Hotel and Casino
06.14.08 Bethel NY US Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
06.16.08 Atlanta GA US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
06.17.08 Atlanta GA US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
06.18.08 Clearwater FL US Ruth Eckerd Hall
06.19.08 Fort Lauderdale FL US Sinatra Theatre
06.21.08 Houston TX US Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion
06.22.08 Dallas TX US Superpages.com Center
06.23.08 Oklahoma City OK US Zoo Amphitheatre
06.25.08 Phoenix AZ US Dodge Theatre
06.27.08 Alpine CA US Viejas Casino
06.28.08 Los Angeles CA US Greek Theatre
06.29.08 Berkeley CA US Greek Theatre
07.01.08 Seattle WA US WaMu Theater
07.02.08 Vancouver BC CA Deer Lake Park
07.04.08 Salt Lake City UT US USANA Amphitheatre
07.05.08 Morrison CO US Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Most tour dates are already on sale. Buy tickets here.