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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 09 > Entry
New B-52’s album taxis toward fall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the group’s first full-length studio recording in 15 years, the B-52’s are returning to their Southern roots. Over a late dinner Thursday upstairs at Repast in Midtown, B’s frontman Fred Schneider told Buzz that he and original members Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson and Keith Strickland have been recording locally at Nickel and Dime Studios and are “halfway finished” with the album, tentatively scheduled for a fall release.
“It’s us, updated, essentially,” Schneider said of the sounds originating from the sessions. “It’s a little more electronic with guitars. But if we sample anyone, we’ll be sampling ourselves!”
The group has been routinely meeting here and in the band’s birthplace in Athens, to create the new tunes.
“This is where we started, so it just feels right to be making this record here,” Schneider explains. “We’ve loved recording at Nickel and Dime Studios, too. There are no distractions there. Once you’re in Avondale [Estates], you’re in Avondale. I love the Salvation Army there. I’ve found some great records there.”
On Thursday, Schneider also bought some vintage vinyl at Wax n Facts in Little Five Points to visit proprietor Danny Beard. (The DB Recs founder was the first to press the band’s single “Rock Lobster” as a 45 in 1978.)
Early Friday morning, Beard returned the favor by popping by Schneider’s guest DJ gig at Bazzaar in Midtown as Schneider spun James Brown, Yoko Ono and remixed Sarah Vaughan for the packed club.
Of the band’s return South to record, Beard told us: “They want to do it where they feel comfortable, I think. It’s great to have them back.”
And just when we didn’t think it was humanly possible for Bazzaar owner Bill Kaelin to become any cooler, he upended our opinion early Friday. He told us that for him, booking Schneider was a bit like returning to high school.
Kaelin confessed to us that he once got bounced out of a dance at his Catholic high school by gyrating to the B’s “Strobelight.”
Young Day is declared in L.A.
Former U.N. ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young has been making the rounds this week in Los Angeles in his new capacity as a filmmaker. Young is the driving force behind the documentary “Rwanda Rising,” which drew a capacity crowd and a standing ovation Thursday night when the film opened the Pan African Film and Arts Festival there. Among those in attendance: Los Angeles Mayor Tony Villaraigosa. The “Rwanda Rising” director, Atlantan C.B. Hackworth, even managed to assemble a partial “Roots” reunion for the documentary when he hired Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr. and Levar Burton to provide voice work on the project. Young also discussed the project with Stevie Wonder on the singer’s weekly Los Angeles radio show this week. On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council proclaimed it Andrew Young Day. Hackworth told us via e-mail from the Left Coast that the film chronicles Rwanda’s success story of reconciliation and forgiveness in the aftermath of genocide. For Atlantans, there is a gallery of Hackworth’s photography from the project on display at Fernbank Science Center through March 31. Said Hackworth: “It was a rare privilege to work on this project with Ambassador Young.”
An ‘Ugly’ face may pay off in contest
They’re reeeally not paying B98.5 FM Kelly and Alpha morning show producer/human piñata Will Gara enough. Gara is vying with 23 other DJs across the country for a trip to Los Angeles to meet the cast of “Ugly Betty” on the set of the ABC comedy. In ABC’s “Ugly Betty: A Face for Radio DJ Contest,” listeners go to www.pciasp.com/uglybettycontest/selectphoto.aspx and vote on which radio guy is the most hideous in his cross-dressing Betty garb. Listeners can win a vacation to Cancun, Mexico, in exchange for voting. Gara is ticked that a radio guy from Florida is beating him. “You know how they are with elections,” Gara cracks via e-mail to Buzz. “I do hope my mini-sombrero propels me to first place real soon.”
Stork report
First for couple: Actor Kevin Costner (above) and his wife, Christine, are expecting their first child.
“They’re very excited, very happy about the pregnancy,” publicist Paul Bloch said.
Costner and his wife married in September 2004. He has three children from a previous marriage.
On my iPod
Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (right): “Funny you should ask because I just bought ‘Ask Rufus’ [by] Rufus & Chaka Khan. I’m all old soul, baby. Everything old. Chaka. Aretha [Franklin]. Candi Staton. Mavis Staples. The Stylistics. It helps me get through.”
Celebrity birthdays
Saturday: Actor Robert Wagner is 77. Singer Roberta Flack is 68.
Sunday: Actor Leslie Nielsen is 81. Actress Tina Louise (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 73. Actor Burt Reynolds is 71. Actress Jennifer Aniston is 38. Singer D’Angelo is 33. Singer-actress Brandy (“Moesha”) is 28. Singer Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) is 26.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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