Ricky Wilson died of AIDS-related illness in 1985,[9] and Strickland permanently switched from drums to lead guitar.

They have been nominated for three Grammy Awards: twice for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1990 and 1991, and for Best Alternative Music Album in 1992.

[11] The group evoked a "thrift shop aesthetic", in Bernard Gendron's words,[7] by drawing from 1950s and 1960s pop music, rock and roll, and camp/kitsch culture.

They formed as "the B-52's" in 1976 when Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson (her elder brother), Pierson, Strickland, and cowbell player, poet, and lead vocalist Schneider held an impromptu jam session after sharing a flaming volcano drink at a Chinese restaurant in Athens, Georgia.

[12] The name "B-52's" comes from a particular beehive hairdo resembling the nose cone of the aircraft, which Pierson and Cindy Wilson wore in performances during the band's first decade.

The band's quirky take on the new wave sound of its era was a combination of dance and surf music set apart from their contemporaries by thrift-store chic and the unusual guitar tunings Ricky Wilson used.

Released on July 6, 1979, The B-52's contained re-recorded versions of "Rock Lobster" and "52 Girls", six originals recorded solely for the album, and a cover of the Petula Clark hit "Downtown".

In the U.S., the single "Rock Lobster" reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[17] while the album was certified platinum by the RIAA.

In 1980, John Lennon called the B-52s his favorite band and specifically cited "Rock Lobster" as an inspiration for his Double Fantasy.

The B-52s performed on Saturday Night Live on January 26, 1980, and at the Heatwave festival (promoted as the "New Wave Woodstock") in Toronto, Canada, in August 1980.

was released, a six-song collection containing songs from the first two albums remixed and sequenced to form two long tracks, one on each side.

The band members all lived together in the same house and felt that collaboration was not working, so they decided to try to write songs separately and began recording in July 1985, again using drum machines and synthesizers extensively.

[24] When the band returned to the studio, Strickland had learned how to play the guitar in Wilson's style and switched permanently to the new instrument, leaving session players to complete the rhythm section.

[26] A music video was made for "Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland" and the band appeared on some UK television programs but then took a two-year hiatus.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover on behalf of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

After he played some of his new music for the other band members, they all agreed to try writing together again, with Pierson, Wilson and Schneider contributing the lyrics and melodies.

[29] The next single, "Love Shack", with its party vibe and colorful music video,[30] became their first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately reaching No.

The group had a successful world tour to support the record and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone in March 1990.

16 in the U.S.[35] It is also the group's most overtly political album, though they had been activists and fundraisers for environmental, AIDS and animal rights causes for many years.

In 1994, Pierson and Schneider also sang on the theme song for the Nickelodeon series Rocko's Modern Life, from the second season onward.

A career retrospective, Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation, appeared in 1998, along with two remixed maxi-singles: "Summer of Love '98" and "Hallucinating Pluto".

The Irving Plaza show in New York City featured Yoko Ono, as well as Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, as guests, with Chicks on Speed as the opener.

In late 2002, the critically panned cartoon pilot "The Groovenians" featured a theme song performed by the band.

[40][41][42] Talking about the record's sound, Strickland noted, "It's loud, sexy rock and roll with the beat turned up to hot pink.

The group continued to perform live, with a touring band that featured musicians Sterling Campbell (drums), Paul Gordon (keyboards, guitar) and Tracy Wormworth (bass), and performances included the closing show for the 2011 edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as being the house band during the 2012 TV Land Awards.

[46] Without Strickland, the B-52s continued to tour across the world with groups including The Go-Go's,[47] Tears for Fears, The English Beat, The Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds,[48][49] Boy George and Culture Club, and Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey.

Aside from touring, the group covered the Squidbillies theme song during Season 10 of the Adult Swim series and appeared as guests in the sketch comedy show Portlandia.

[52] In April 2022, the group announced that they would embark on a final farewell tour, with KC and the Sunshine Band, lasting from August 22 to November 11, 2022.

[55][56] On May 15, 2024, the City of Athens, Georgia, announced that their Federal Prospects Hockey League team would be named the Rock Lobsters, honoring the band and their hit song.

The band responded on social media, stating "we are truly honored to have our hometown hockey team named the Rock Lobsters.