Born On This Day- April 17th... B-52's Kate Pierson

The B-52s are commonly known as the "World's Greatest Party Band" & they call themselves "tacky little dance band from Athens, Georgia".

They dared to be different & way out there long before Lady Gaga , & welcomed everyone else who did the same. They were always embraced by The Gays. Decades before Born This Way, the B-52’s had a little ditty-Junebug: "Well, don't you listen to what they say. / We're a little different anyway. / Ain't it the truth, uh huh."

Following drinks at an Athens Chinese restaurant in October 1976, a group of friends formed the B-52s & named themselves after Southern slang for  big bouffant hairdos. The band soon attracted an ardent following, becoming the talk of Athens. They were soon doing gigs at CBGB’s, along with the Ramones, Television, & Blondie.

Their self-titled debut sold more than 500,000 copies with hit singles–Rock Lobster & 52 Girls. 35+ years & over 20 million album sales later, the B-52s remain are still going strong, playing a concert at the zoo here in Portland at the Oregon Zoo on the summer solstice. The band’s mix of punk, new wave & vintage rock certainly kept me dancing in the late 1970s & 1980s, & that accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without Ricky Wilson (God rest his soul), Keith Strickland, Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson. The B-52s continue to take their party music revolution into the 21st century, they show no signs of slowing down.

Three members of B-52's quartet are out & proud gay people, including today's birthday gay- Kate Pierson. She continues to give us style, wit, fun & retro-cool with her music.

Pierson has also worked with R.E.M., Iggy Pop, & was one of the members of NiNa, a band that achieved huge success in Japan in the 1990s.

In 2005, Pierson opened a motel- Kate's Lazy Meadow in upstate NY with her partner of 10 years- Monica Coleman. She is looking good & moving hot as she turns an astonishing 64 years old today.