It has been said that the B-52's are as quintessentially American as the Beach Boys. And thirty years and over twenty million albums into their career, they remain the among the most beloved rock stars ever. Known as "the world's greatest party band," the B-52's have attracted legions of faithful, fun-seeking fans with their unique sound and electrifying stage show.

Formed on an October night in 1976 following drinks at an Athens, GA, Chinese restaurant, the band played their first gig at a friend's house on Valentine's Day 1977. Naming themselves after Southern slang for exaggerated 'bouffant" hairdos, the newly-christened B-52's (Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson) began weekend road trips to New York City for gigs at CBGB's and a handful of other venues. Before long, their thrift store aesthetic and genre-defying songs were the talk of the post-punk underground. A record deal soon followed and their self-titled debut disc, produced by Chris Blackwell, sold more than 500,000 copies on the strength of their first singles, the garage rock party classic "Rock Lobster," and "52 Girls." The B-52's had tapped into a growing audience for new music that was much larger than anyone could have anticipated. "We've always appealed to people outside the mainstream," says Kate Pierson, "and I think more people feel they're outside the mainstream these days."

The B-52's have just completed recording a brand new album, their first in 15 years, with producer Steve Osborne (KT Tunstall, New Order, Manic Street Preachers) and programmers Damian Taylor (Bjork) and Pete Davis (New Order). Set for an early 2008 release, it maintains the band's classic party vibe, but with a more modern direction. "There's more electronica on it," he said. "It's up-tempo and a bit sexed-up. It's sexier than ever," says Fred.

There's no doubt that fans are looking forward to this new release. Thirty years into their career, the B-52's continue to keep the party going, serving up their own unique blend of music and showmanship to millions of people worldwide, and with no signs of slowing down.