Timeless party rock band, THE B-52S, will turn the Adrienne Arsht Center’s John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall into a cosmic dancehall with chart-topping hits such as “Rock Lobster,” “Private Idaho,“ “Roam,” and the ever-popular party anthem “Love Shack.” As part of their much-anticipated 35th Anniversary Tour, THE B-52s are set to make their only South Florida appearance at the Adrienne Arsht Center on February 12, 2012 at 8 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall.
Tickets range from $25 to $45, and go on sale to Arsht Center members January 9, 2012 and to the general public January 16, 2012. Tickets may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.
The B-52S concert is part of the Arsht Center’s AMP’D UP Series.
Formed on an October night in 1976 following drinks at an Athens, GA, Chinese restaurant, the band played their first gig at a friend’s house on Valentine’s Day 1977. Naming themselves after Southern slang for exaggerated “bouffant” hairdos, THE B-52S began weekend road trips to New York City for gigs at CBGB’s and a handful of other venues. Before long, their thrift store aesthetic and genre-defying songs were the talk of the post-punk underground. A record deal soon followed and their self-titled debut disc, produced by Chris Blackwell, sold more than 500,000 copies on the strength of their first singles, the garage rock party classic “Rock Lobster,” and “52 Girls.” The B-52S began to attract fans far beyond the punk clubs of the Lower East Side — galvanizing the pop world with their ‘stream-of-consciousness’ approach to songwriting and outrageous performance.
The B-52S have always cut a wide path, from early college radio to ‘80s New Wave to the MTV era, from post-punk to retro-surf to the very core of dance music itself. Theirs is a body of work that is singular, beloved and timeless, and band members Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland and Cindy Wilson can surely take credit for having influenced countless musicians and generations of fans. And yet, says Fred, “We just did our own thing, which was a combination of rock-‘n’-roll, funk, and Fellini, and game show host, and corn, and mysticism.”
“The B-52s’ upbeat sound and quirky showmanship make this group a delightful addition to the Center’s diverse lineup in the Knight Concert Hall. Their infectious party-rock classics are sure to make Miami audiences go wild,” said M. John Richard, president and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center.
A B-52S concert experience leaves no doubt as to why they are known as “The World’s Greatest Party Band.” And 35 years into their career, and with over 20 million albums sold, they remain one of rock music’s most unique and enduring bands. As they take their party-music revolution into the 21st century, The B-52S show no signs of slowing down, serving up their own unique blend of music and showmanship to millions of fans around the world.