News on their 2007 comeback album:

Album update: We ran into Kate last weekend in San Francisco at the Alice Now & Zen Fest. Between radio interviews and mingling with the Gnarls Barkley gang she relayed the band have been hard at work recording in a New York studio with producer Steve Osborne.

"We just flew out here for this show and are going right back to work tomorrow." Kate described the band as being "right in the middle" of the recording process. When pressed for further clarification, she smiled and offered "in the middle of the beginning." Stay tuned.
[Edited 10/19/06 20:07pm]

OMG I so can't wait to hear this!!!

thank you

New Duran Duran, REM and B-52's albums in 2007!

It's like the late 80's all over again!

i hope it's better than their last album, but really i'm ready for ANYTHING new from the B52's. it's been too long!

Natisse, calm down baby.

Planet Clare is the shit.

2freaky4church1 said:

I'm exciteable what can I say? hehe

This is how they should look

That's what yo man tells me.

This will be the first album with Cindy since 1989's "Cosmic Thing".

Their last studio album was 1992's "Good Stuff".

Nick715 said:

It's most certainly been a while!

WHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!!


It has been waaaaay too long.

Nick715 said:

The 80's

strobelight and rock lobster remain my favourites by them. summer of love being another.

Nick715 said:

Oooh yeah!!!

Hot Lava
Gimme Back My Man
Love Shack

Those are my favorites, but I like more!

LQ

'Good Stuff' was really disappointing. I took the B-52's off my favorites list after hearing that record.

"Deadbeat Club", "Roam", "Channel Z"...

oooooh! I'm cautiously excited for this! They really lost their way after hittin the big time with Cosmic Thing. I hope this is a good return and not just an excuse to tour again.

Bring it! Bring it!!!

TWICE I have bought tickets to see them live, only for them to cancel the shows. I hope they tour this record.

One of my favourite bands. And 'Cosmic Thing' was the first album I ever bought.

I can't wait for this!

I love this group! Cosmic thing was the first CD I took my allowence and bought back in '89!

2freaky4church1 said:

to me, the quintessential "party record". I can't listen to Rock Lobster once, it has to be three times in a row.

Bev is stalkin me.

sextonseven said:

Aw come on, "Good Stuff" wasn't that bad. Even though it's considered the weakest of all theire albums, they still had some pretty good songs: Revolution Earth, Dreamland, Good Stuff, World's Green Laughter, etc.

More news on their 2007 comeback CD:

Studio Update -- October 13, 2006

Thanks to all the fans who sent in questions about the new album. The B's have a ton of your questions which they will try to answer in between work in the studio. The following questions were answered by Fred, and a few by Kate, whom we thank for giving us some quick responses.

---

Have any of the four of you brought some songs to the table that were originally intended for solo projects?
Kate: No, we keep our solo stuff separate. We create these songs together. That's what makes them B's songs.

Fred: I had a lyric sketch for "Pump" (new song featured in "The L Word" earlier this year) for a solo CD which was incorporated into the song.

Any vocal solos like "Revolution Earth" or "Give Me Back My Man"?
Fred: No.

Are Fred, Cindy and Kate playing any instruments this time around?
Fred: So far no.

Did the band originally intend for such a big gap between full albums?
Fred: No, we've had several band and business things that made us take so long so we are shooting for a Summer 2007 release with a tour to follow.

What direction do you see the band going in now that the early B-52's / New Wave sound is so big again?
Fred: We have our own distinct sound and we've updated it.

The song you did on 'The L Word' (Pump) is great. Is the sound of the album going to be in the direction of that song?
Fred: The album will be a mix of rock songs and dance songs.

Has the band's approach to recording changed much since the early days?
Kate: Different but the same. The recording process is different these days with digital technology. But Keith wrote the music then Cindy, Fred and I "jammed" in our usual process of trying to make things flow. Then we listen and try to make sense of it all. We may pick out a chorus, then go for the verses. Or we might get a beginning and go from there. But we all participate in the process. Keith wrote some killer music and massive grooves making it fun to jam and come up with crazy ideas.

Any plans for a DVD to accompany the release?
Fred: Plans, yes.

Does the album have a name yet?
Fred: No.

I read somewhere that you were going to change your logo. Are you still going to do that?
Fred: Not now.

Can we expect remixes and/or videos of any of the singles?
Fred: Yes, but we're still recording so it's too early to tell.

Will we finally be able to hear "Killer Bees" (the song from the first jam the band ever did)?
Fred: Not yet.

Fred, I love your work with Elvira (aka Cassandra Peterson) Any chance you might work on another Halloween track again?
Fred: Glad you liked them! I need to get in touch with Elvira whom I haven't seen in several years. If you can, check out my Halloween show a few days before the 31st on Sirius. I think you'll get a kick out of it. **



Look for more Q&A with the B's as they work on their new album in the future. To submit a question to the band about the upcoming album, send us an e-mail at B52sTempMail@aol.com

Just the sound of the phrase "New B-52's album" gives me warm fuzzies. :

npgmaverick said:

Me too! Each time this thread gets highlighted, I have that tingling sensation. SO excited to hear this, it's been far too long.

Yeah, that interview was a tad concise. I can't imagine they are so unbelievably busy that they can't sell themselves a little. And how about a couple of yesses: "Yes, we're playing the instruments, and having a blast! Yes, we've got some nutty footage we can't wait to put on the DVD. Yes, we're kicking around a few names for the record - you'll have to wait and see!"

Anyway, I'm excited they're recording. I'd be a hell of a lot more excited if they were doing more than singing on it. That 1979 debut seriously rocks me, even if the playing is a little rough.

chicks on speed have done a cover of "song for a future generation".