Interview: The B-52s Cindy Willson
After a 16-year recording hiatus, the B-52s are back with Funplex, a wickedly modern, dance-driven record that proves the rambunctious quartet hasn't aged a bit. Blender.com recently caught up with blonde-haired vocalist Cindy Wilson to talk about their hip new label, the recently missing apostrophe in their name and why 2008 was the right time to release a new record.
It's been 16 years since your last album. Why was 2008 a good time to release this record?
Cindy Wilson: [Laughs] Everybody thought we were crazy, because of the climate of the music industry right now. But that's just how it was, you know, the B-52 type of timing. We spent a lot of time making a good record and getting all our ducks in a row as far as business and music. It's been thrilling to have everything work together so well.
Why is Astralwerks the right label to carry your comeback?
Astralwerks was a godsend. They’re very modern and very hip. It's a real badge to be on there. When we gave them our songs, they were just crazy about [them]. They could hear it; they were fans of the band to begin with. They saw potential in what we could do. They brought the whole staff out to Coney Island to watch us live! Everybody was just so great.
Astralwerks is known for representing a lot of dance acts. Is there a particular artist or group on their roster that you're fond of?
Well, I'm the worst person to ask about what's going on. Keith Strickland is the one that is really putting his ear out there to see what's going on. He's really been listening to the electronic type of dance music that's been going on. But he's also going back and listening to New Order, different music like that. So on this record he's put a rougher sort of guitar edge to contemporary electronic sounds.
Speaking of New Order, your producer Steve Osborne has worked with them and with fellow '80s dance music icons Happy Mondays. Funplex, however, has a distinctly modern feel. Was there a lot of push and pull between the band and Steve's ’80s sensibilities, or did the collaboration feel organic?
It definitely felt real organic. Steve is just so talented, has such good ears and good taste. He knows when to pull back and push a little bit. Keith, like I said, was listening to New Order. When we had a list of producers to choose, Steve was definitely on the short list. And when we sent him our songs he said he definitely wanted to be on board. So we were thrilled. He has that great rock & roll ear. I think it was a challenge for him to work with so many elements. I mean, he's a master, but there’s a lot going on. To try to make it sound simple yet textural, make it sound consistent and flow. It was amazing.
Do you think today's rock audiences are open to dance music and genre blending?
I do sense that, the band definitely talks about that in what we were trying to achieve. I think it's the right record for the right time.
Why did you guys drop the apostrophe in your name?
[Laughs] I can't believe this has been getting so much attention! I guess having the apostrophe was just a mistake the whole time, but yeah, we decided to be correct.
So it was an issue of grammar then?
[Laughs] Yes!
What's one record your fans would be surprised to know you own?
Wanda Jackson? I don't know, maybe not. Let’s see … oh gosh, I went and bought Bryan Ferry … singing Dylan! Actually, I like it a lot.
In your heyday, critics called you a band ahead of its time. Is there a band you would bestow that title upon now?
Maybe New [Young] Pony Club and Scissor Sisters.
Like so many great bands, you got your start in Athens, Georgia. What makes that small town such a hotbed for rock & roll?
Well, it's a liberal spot in the southeast Georgia; it's a college town, with college culture, yet cheap to live in. There is a very large artist element despite it being southern — it's very open and worldly. We had acts come through, music come through, different cultures, so it wasn't so isolated. Yet it was isolated enough where you could have all these interesting elements, shake and stir, see what comes out.
What is your favorite city or venue to play in?
Oh that's so hard!
Just pick one that stands out.
Any city that has a great crowd, I'm not going to commit!
Finally, speak of your style for a second. You seem to take a lot of aesthetic inspiration from the 1950s.
That was in the early days, I guess it came from the thrift stores we frequented in Athens. We liked goofing on the bouffant and all that kind of stuff. And we were dressing for entertainment. We still do that; we take the drama wherever we see it. But it doesn't necessarily need to be inspired from the 50s or 60s. It's just mixing styles together; whatever gives us that vibe, you know?
