52 Girls • The B-52's

[MrAlyBee]

Thanksssss for this rare video !!!

[RamereW]

This is some pure hipster shit.

[dazmalski]

frack this is good - been here for a couple years - I hope somebody has it Stacked

[jbearden]

You need to let people share this video.

[akafrank]

nope, the downtown club is in Atlanta's Virginia Highland neighborhood. It's now the Highland Tap. Notice the granite walls behind the band....

[hiro10052]

これを見て感じました。B-52'sはライブハウスで見たかった­­です。（日本でのコンサートは盛り上がりませんでしたね。）P­a­rty Mixばかり1年間、聞き続けたことを思い出します。

[luchalibreclassics3]

1978 and it looks like 1952!!!

[leelee3kitties]

It's great finding rareities like this! Love this band. Thanks to the one smart enough to capture them early before they hit it big mainstream. Lucky you!!!!!!

[nu2thgame]

Classic...

[lamusicanuncamuere]

me mata le barba bailando jajaja!

[bubba2215]

can anyone tell me if this place was below the agora,i was just told i was at this show

[EltomeiroJackson]

just enough to get started

[bubba2215]

78-79 Alex Cooley's electric ballroom.Or maybe the agora ballroom.cant remember.those days are fuzzy.is this in 8mm?

[BODYSLAMwrestling]

@bubba2215 This looks like it was shot on video (probably 1/2 inch open reel video, considering the time this was shot). I am going to take a shot in the dark and say this might be CBGB's because I have footage from there around this time and I see the burned in light spots on the camera are the same...but that just is a guess

[clintxoxox]

excellent



[NOOOQUARTER]

IMHO the best song they ever did followed by Rock Lob, game on :) Thank god for you tube & all the gems saved here. P.S. all you music tard exec's, i went out & bought the greatest hits of the B-52's CD because of youtube, so quit whinning about copyright BS.....it pays to advertise for free you dumbasses!!

[Artaud1957]

@NOOOQUARTER The B-52s have done a lot of good-to-great songs, but I think the 45 version of "52 Girls" is the best thing they ever did. I've seen them only once, circa 1978-79, playing to about 20 people in Cleveland, Ohio. The thing that struck me, even moreso than their great music, was how friendly and *confident* they were. Just very nice people. I'm glad they "made it."

[pushbuttoncashsite]

AWESOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME

my favourite of all tracks still amazing in 2011 awesome 52 Girls go go go :)

[smallglories]

I bought Rock Lobster the day it came out and this was on the flip. Absolutely brilliant song and real dirty performance. A marvel.

[song110beforgiving]

I like how Kate is playing the white Gibson SG on this song.

She is so appealing to me; Cindy Wilson is nice too.

I wonder if she still has that guitar? I hope so.

[tecdessus]

@song110beforgiving She`s playing the lead, watch the `Hero Worship` clip, she plays lead there too. I`ve also seen some great pictures of Cindy on stage with an Epiphone, and a Strat. :-)

[KSTsonic]

So cool

[ccbbb23]

WOW. OH WOW!!!  Even in the early days, they rocked. Kmills74 you are my new hero or heroine. I want to find out where these came from, but I want to watch all of them again!!! WOW. Oh WOW!!!

[sdsurfers]

This FUCKING RULES....wtg....TY for the post....i am fing 45 now...but 30 years ago...had ALL by this band and went to US festival and saw them live...WAY after this...this post rules and SO DO U for posting....the 17 no's...are DUMB FING morons..but that's another story..!! TY

[catjoyyoung]

l o v e

[cezarix]

orgasmic rhythm.

[centurion180ad]

@cezarix brilliant song. sweet singers, probably anyway. 1978 for a pair of young successful ladies, was a different galaxy from where we are now.

The Cold War had //all// the great bands.

[ScrewAttackChina]

Punjava and Abeerah!!

These are the girls of the USA!

[surge2k7]

Is that club still there today and is it still rocin?

[AlfieNoakesOhHo]

AAAAAWESOME!!!

It's punk-rock btw, purely, simply & unmistakeably so

It's exactly the sort of things The Slits and other bands were doing

[GuillaumeMaze]

I love your moves buddy! looks like you were having a hell of a good time. Wish I'd been there... I was only 4 then though... ;-)

[lebarosky]

@ jackal59: took your advice and I stand by what I said. For heaven's sake take another listen to this group right after listening to some other rockabilly music! Not the same, sure, but that is the genre they are in.

[jackal59]

@lebarosky There is a world of difference between saying "I think this sounds like rockabilly," which is simply a matter of opinion, and saying that the B52s "laid down what is basically THE rockabilly area of rocknroll," which is a statement contrary to the facts of the original period of rockabilly music and its later revival. Claiming that against fact denies what the B52s really did.

Everyone gets to have his or her own opinion; no one gets to have his or her own facts.

[randomeddie]

They were pretty tight!

[iHaveAnger]

Never again will there be such a fun and new sound.

[BlueNote4003]

@iHaveAnger Check out Frankie Rose and The Outs.

[Clown2000]

@iHaveAnger

You`re so right! In German we said " Das passt wie die Faust aufs Auge"

[twinsmm1]

Betty and Brenda... boom ba boom chick... Suzie and Anita... boom ba boom chick... yeah!!!

[4646marco]

Kate is playing the lead for that song!! Just watch her!!!xoxoxo

[lapoubelle]

Which one of them cannot name all the girls?

All the men of the band were/are camp as tents,

the girls were then right, so whose girls is the song

about?

Curious.

[lebarosky]

It is clear from this wonderful video that the B's are one of the iconic bar bands of all time. They morphed when more successful into a very very slick operation, and laid down what is basically THE rockabilly area of rocknroll. I would say that the Stray Cats are but a grace note to the work of the B's.

[jackal59]

@lebarosky ... rockabilly? I'm sorry, but that is so nonsensical that I'm embarrassed for you. For heaven's sake, do a Google search and listen to some rockabilly before you make yourself look even more foolish.

[GuillaumeMaze]

@jackal59 Who cares guys??? Personnaly, I call this: Good sound, good tune, good fun, lovely!!! Have fun!

[momonimosimus]

Fred once had a full head of hair! Awesome! He looks so shy and introverted here.

[pedro0268]

One of the most original bands I've ever heard! Their sound is so unique! These early ears were highly creatives, what they've done with less technology available than now, is amazing! Great band!

[spacelau]

Cultissime !!!!!



[freakulater6869]

Badest song they ever did

[Pinazco]

@freakulater6869

Why judging this song as "badest" when you could just have said "the song i like less"?

That's a great problem.

[mikecaz1]

i was in 10th grade this year and we had just heard of them. rock lobster got hot a couple of years later, but I never really liked that song. I saw them at an underground club in 1980 or 81 with the Swimming Pool Qs while we were at UGA. REM was coming out of Athens at the same time, Love Tractor and Pylon, too. Very cool time musically!!!!!!

[axional]

wow.. im lucky that i caught on to this band in the late 70's ..so much fun!!

[mdeboard1]

Nice beard bro!

[royalnash]

b52's suck talking heads blow them out the water

[noleesk]

im sorry to disappoint you... it wasn't really hahahaha

[SPXclothing]

Wow- this was basically the start of early american new wave, with punk overtones. such a great song, and album. I wish I was at this show! Whoever was, is very lucky! I was only 9 years old. Who remembers the B-52's on Saturday Night live in 79'? or 80? classic!

[kaliyuta]

geez look how thin fred looks.

this was the year i was born.that's nuts.

[waynealarsen]

this rules, what a great time!

[jcrush13]

Brilliant!

[vanspiritwalker]

OMG this is so priceless to any fan ! love it !

[ClueSign]

So primtiive, it's almost like the Shaggs

[fcvl73]

Just amazing!!! Fernando, Brazil

[tecdessus]

yeah right, if only you could buy the B52s on dvd, unfotunately this is not the case.

[smashbeans]

i want to buy this dvd,whats it called?

[jayheadj420]

incredible footage. they played great gildersleeves in NYC the same year! Great band, Still Rockin'!

[TerrapinTowers]

oh wow.... thanks for whoever posted these beautiful, and historic videos

[kc979087]

Kate was 30 here, it looks like she was 20

[sweetnspicy223]

in the begging, it sounds terrible but then flattens out i like it!

[GisMadz]

The original B52's, who needs a god?

[ladylizzie21]

I love this...it's a story of real before fame...still the same sound!  They had it together.

[tttrishrodd]

wow i got chills!!

[10fingersofdeath]

oh so fab

[opalasattic]

Wow....it's finding video treasures like this that make me love Youtube so much. Absolutely amazing!

[noodlam]

Pogo not invented yet?

[strangereister]

best ever 52's

[LonEr4evah]

wow!

[blink4me57]

so excellent!

[SoCalGuero]

I love thier style

[superwhuffo1]

Wow...that was really cool to watch....I should have been there but I was probably too coked out!!! lol

[diggindis]

was there then !

[Kaawooruu]

EPIC !

[Anteroization]

can you remove that stupid dancer who is in the middle ?

[MrTotallyanonymous]

What's he doing wrong?

[jwattie]

That may be one of the coolest things I ever saw! :)

[woddel2001]

so look at "rock lobster" and you will say it too, i promise

[woddel2001]

@jwattie

[the13thmoon]

Fab song,terrific band,classic stuff.

[gustavofranco]

@mlldstrcats, Yes i know that she is Kate, but what I wanted to say is that I have seen in some old pictures to Cindi also playing guitar, something that surprised me because i've never seen it on video or on any information about that

[SpringSessionZen]

The purity of it all blows my mind!

Awesome.

[BIGeSTRING]

these are the real B52's

[RhetoricPerson]

@BIGeSTRING These are the poor B-52's.

[BIGeSTRING]

@RhetoricPerson hahaha so what, but good

[gustavofranco]

i have seen some pics with Cindy playing guitars and keyboards,,but never in a video

[mlldstrcats]

@gustavofranco that's kate with the guitar

[mahmut0815]

very nice

[alphacanis]

Love this. WHY have you inactivated embedding?

[luckytile]

Class!

[RiverVmanna]

That was great! thhanks, I'd love to embed this one on my Fb

[Raiderfn31]

my god this good LIVE music....amazing considering it was a dive...AMAZING....they could have played this in the middle of an earthquake....they would still nail it!!!!!!!!!

[fundies2]

i saw her play guitar on bushfire as well in 89 , 90 and 91. it was hot. she also played guitar on hero worship.

[dazmalski]

when Kate and Cindy get together that rocks my boat.

[SrTocolaguitarra]

I wish I could have really been there, but this video is the next best thing. There is an excitement in the raw energy of live performances like this that can never be duplicated in a sterile studio. It's also very interesting to see them before they made it big. I love it!

[siteshouse]

The birth of Cool in Atlanta - always a year behind Athens!

[Lobonsky]

Ripper of a song! Like the burst from the organ in the dying stages of the song!

[samuel1956]

Wow! I had no idea Kate ever played guitar! That's the coolest ever! I wonder if she did on any other cuts? Love these vids!

[adragonfly75]

I saw her rock out on guitar on "Bushfire"..1991, at a concert. It was awesome! Can't find any clips of it on internet though. :(

[okiedokies]

Great stuff to pull this type of footage out. This what makes YouTube something unique, would never have had the chance to watch otherwise, cheers!

[CJWensleydale]

Can somebody please post '53 Miles West of Venus'?..

[makeme400]

wow. whats with the beginning? did the drummer mess up or was it something with the audio? anyway he got back on.

[markbootmaker]

It was more than likely the video. Everything seemed a bit disheveled for the first 25 seconds then it started sounding right. Great rare video.

[noleesk]

thats me with the beard in the front!!!!

[l0t49]

omg come dance with me

[ElectricBreath]

I <3 facial hair

[PabloEmilio1000]

@noleesk Noooooo, c´mon! Thats too much! Are you sure? Tell me about it, please, if you are not lyeing then yuo really had the best party of your life! love your shirt.

[DUANEMUSIC1]

@noleesk

wow. ur REALLY into it! awesum!

[iwishiwereahippy]

@noleesk THAT'S SO COOOL!

[fabios66]

@noleesk nice shirt!

[LunaSeaSane]

Nice shirt ;)

[canals22]

@noleesk Man, you're stoned to high heavens !!!

Cooollll... good ol' days....

[Fiorucci79]

@noleesk Sweeeeeet !!  :)

[liquid3600]

@noleesk I hope you still have that checkered shirt. That is probably the only thing in this video more legendary than the B-52s

[Timmybear]

@noleesk - and you're a handsome devil. :)

[Logananda111]

@noleesk I can't believe how frikkin awesome this is LOL thanks a million for posting these clips

[wayout71]

Goosebumps!!!!! Thank you!!!!

[fungun65]

I saw them at the Riviera Theater in Chicago in 1980. Kate played the bass as in this vid. People brought plastic lobsters to the show. They were the best of the New Wave bands of that era. I took my daughter to see them in Feb(09) at the Miami Beach Filmore. They STILL ROCK!

[clintonearlwalker]

They were and still are the best of the New Wave bands of any era!

[Edhallick]

This is when they were at their peak before Ricky died and they fell under the spell of overproducing moronic a-holes.

[perkjc01]

Kate is on the bass. Cindy's just looking hot, a full time job.

[tzahner]

Kate's playing guitar, the bass sound is coming from Fred on the keyboard, look at 2:12 on this vid. Also on the Rock Lobster vid from the same show, Fred introduces Kate as playing organ and guitar.

[perkjc01]

You're right tzahner and I forgot about that other video. Thanks !

[BearHouston]

Which one is playing the guitar here? Is it Cindy or Kate? I think I can vaguely make out Ricky W. in the background on the guitar or bass. I didn't think the girls played guitars. I have never seen Cindy play anything - and I've always seen Kate on keyboards. Great posting. thanks for sharing it!

[tykepolchies]

phukken eh! The goods man!

[Coffee45]

FANTASTIC!!!

[depredatorperu]

Es hormosa la musica de ellos y miren como se vacila la gente siempre grandes the b-52's

[pitochupon]

amazing video back in time...i love it

[soadfan33]

They sound great live. Thanx for posting

[berlinsneakerz]

OMG- that's awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[dazmalski]

Still my most favourite video on Youtube.

Thanks again kmills74.

And when is the bopper in the chessboard shirt gonna show up here?

[sandlsl]

hehe. freds organ.

[perkjc01]

I love the raw nature and the freshness of this recording. It shows the  52's were truly a rock band, not just an early alternative band as they are often pigeonholed.

[Ballerfella2007]

cool beat didnt know B52's were sooo good. Great Video 2 thumbs up

[cryptsub]

The bass guitar sucks, but otherwise a good performance.

[cryptsub]

Sorry, it's Fred's organ.

[chillyswillys]

¡Ten tu cuete y a danzar!

[MusicsMonk]

Close to rehearsal :) Quality sucks. Content is awesome, though. °|~Jo

[miceypoo]

Thanks for the unique video, much appreciated!

[shatzi]

I saw their 1st LP in a store and was so intrigued by the cover I bought it, without hearing a song. My best friend and I loved it and played it to death.

[heavenlyworlds]

Kate looks cool just jammin, huh?

[SteveSparx]

AWESOME VID chk out my vid response of Planet Caire @ LAST POLICEshow ever msg

[strangereister]

it must be playback... ;-)

great stuff

[TRANZEURO]

This is a GREAT performance ! Very raw ! I wish all the band members still played their own instruments live like they used to.

[drummergirl1025]

their playing is so original, every member has their own style. Like i love keith's crazy crashes on the right side of his set :)

[mirrors72]

Cool. B52's Rock!

[spacelf]

That drummer has never been out of time - Keith is one of the best time keepers ever. There is a glitch in the sound on the clip - there is a delay on the audio portion of the clip at the beginning. It's not the band.

Together Keith and Ricky were an awesome rhythm section.

[antoniscal]

America's best!

[KurpitsA99]

love this song! it's wery goood!!!!!!!!

[jebby16]

A synthesizer for the bass line. Sweet. Although this obviously sounds pretty rough, it's diamond sharp on the album. Thanks for the post.

[iammready]

More vids please!!

[AyahuaskaPop]

grandiosa banda!

[heavenlyworlds]

This is a great song!

[Swede224]

killer!!!..love this tune..thx

[kafirpigdog]

These early clips are about as good as it gets, fantastic stuff

[splarsen]

Now that's rock n' roll!!

[angelolano]

thats great

[noDok]

Love this.

[ECisGOD]

LMOA Beardies dodgy dancing, mixture of the pogo, freestyle hippy and the ole classic washing machine. Personally I think he is up there perving at the girls - and why wouldn't he!

[up2space]

this song kicks ass on their first album. was my fav. the punk influence was always a charmer.

[Ballerfella2007]

Wow didnt know they had hits back then... Good sound as well I see why they had a recording contract there good.

[SubmergedRecords]

Vivian Girls, eat your hearts out.

[pachotuve]

so simple and although beyond reach of most new "american idols"

[Aleowiciuos]

Rocky start but great!

[raraelzinho]

a Kate e d+ ela tem uma bela voz, e fora que sabe tocar violão, guitarra, baixo, teclado, sintetizador....