Transmissions :: Kate Pierson (The B-52s)

About this episode

Kate Pierson of The B-52s discusses her life in art, solo projects, and the band's legacy.

This week on Transmissions, Kate Pierson, vocalist and keyboardist of The B-52s. Writing about the legendary Atlanta band, AD founder Justin Gage says, “The B-52’s 1979 debut album ushered in a practically fully formed sound/band. No one else was doing this…whatever ‘this’ was.” Indeed, The B-52s created a one-of-a-kind sound, blending punk, funk, and art-pop, and while they broke into the mainstream with ubiquitous radio hits, they never sacrificed their avant-garde edge. This fall, the band embarked on a co-headlining tour with Devo—we recorded this talk just before they departed on the jaunt—and last week, Kate Pierson released a cover of Patti Smith’s “People Have The Power!” featuring the Uniting Voices Chicago teen choir. Benefiting the choir and the anti-gun violence organization Sandy Hook Promise, the recording reifies Pierson’s radical bonafides. Pierson joins us for a loose chat about her life in art, solo projects, and the band’s longtime association with Devo. Along the way, we get into their status as queer icons and reflected on the passing of Julee Cruise, the Twin Peaks vocalist who also served as a member of The B-52s. Transmissions is created in partnership…

People in this episode

Host: Justin Gage

Guest: Kate Pierson

Topics covered

• music
• interview
• art
• queer icons
• band history
• social issues

Keywords

• B-52s
• Kate Pierson
• Devo
• queer icons
• music history
• Patti Smith
• anti-gun violence

Sponsors

Aquarium Drunkard

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The B-52s, Devo, Uniting Voices Chicago, Sandy Hook Promise

Books & works: People Have The Power!

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