Pop Quiz: The B-52s

Pop Quiz: The B-52s

Aidin Vaziri | Do not play the B-52s in a crowded room unless you want everybody to start taking off their tops and swinging from the light fixtures. Even after 30 years in the business, the big-haired pop group is cranking out high-velocity party jams, as evidenced by its most recent release, "Funplex." The quartet plays Tuesday at the Mountain Winery Amphitheater in Saratoga, marking the official arrival of summer. We spoke with vocalist Cindy Wilson by phone the day after the B-52s appeared on the CMT Music Awards with fellow Georgia band Sugarland.


Cindy Wilson of The B-52s
Q: Those early songs are so amazing. I just listened to "Give Me Back My Man" 1,283,771 times in a row.
A: It holds up. That song really has potential to take off. I have a good time doing "Give Me Back My Man." Keith Strickland can really fly on the guitar.
Q: Do you know "Love Shack" officially gets played at every wedding ever?
A: It's such a badge. At the same time it makes us not as cool.
Q: Are you still worried about being cool?
A: I never was, obviously. If I was trying to be cool I wouldn't get anything done. We were cool in our own cool kingdom. We were more punk, trying to shock and entertain ourselves. Continue reading.