On Valentine’s Day in 1977, The B-52s performed for the first time, at a house party on Milledge Avenue, sparking a musical and cultural revolution that is still felt to this day in the Classic City.
It is only fitting, therefore, that the legendary “tacky little dance band from Athens, Georgia” play the inaugural concert at the brand-new Classic Center Arena.
At a news conference held Monday at the Classic Center, it was announced that The B-52s will bring their canon of quirky hits to the Classic Center Arena on Saturday, Dec. 14, with Of Montreal – which has also called Athens home -- and DJ Cummerbund opening.
“We couldn’t think of a better band for Athens,” said legendary concert promoter Peter Conlon, chairman of Live Nation, one of the world’s largest live entertainment companies.
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Conlon said his concert promotion career began in 1971 when as a University of Georgia student he chaired the concert committee for the UGA Student Union and brought to town artists like Elton John, Frank Zappa, Billy Joel, Yes, Chicago, the Eagles and Jimmy Buffett.
“I think they all went on to do pretty well,” quipped Conlon.
Paul Cramer, president and CEO of the Classic Center, said the concert has been a decade in the making and offered a progress report on the status of the new arena. He said the roof is completed and it is expected the building will be ready by Nov. 15, adding that a free event introducing the facility to the community is planned.
“It’s going to be super-exciting to get the building, to get our team in, to work through and test the systems so we can be ready for the major things that are going to come on,” said Cramer.
Velena Vego, an Athens resident for some 40 years who has booked shows at the 40 Watt for more than three decades, has had many professional and personal encounters with The B-52s through the years.
“It’s special to team up on the first show at the Classic Center Arena with the B-52s,” said Vego, who for the past seven years has also served as vice president of Third Party Programming and Live Nation. “I’m more excited to see what we’re going to do moving forward, bringing national and international arena acts to Athens, Georgia.”
The Classic Center Arena will seat about 6,500 for concerts, said Vego.
“Athenians should be proud of this arena and this next chapter in our storied music history,” she said. “The B-52s are perfect to represent Athens and the launch of the new Classic Center Arena because they embody the spirit of the Athens music scene from the very start.
“Like Athens, The B-52s have gone from house parties to the 40 Watt to becoming internationally known and loved. And now the band opening the new arena is an important symbol of the next chapter of our music history.”
Known for such songs as “Rock Lobster” (which is also the name of the new Athens professional hockey team, which is set to open their home schedule on Friday, Dec. 6 against the Blue Ridge Bobcats), “Private Idaho,” “Love Shack,” “Dance This Mess Around” and “Deadbeat Club,” The B-52s were pioneers of the musical new wave, opening the doors for other Athens bands like R.E.M., Love Tractor, Pylon and many others.
“The B-52s are iconic in Athens and they’ve played an integral role in the rich music history of our community, and now once again they’re playing an integral role with the opening of our arena as we enter a new era of entertainment in Athens,” said Katie Williams, vice president of sales and marketing for the Classic Center Arena.
The band – now consisting of founding members Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider and Cindy Wilson – has sold some 20 million albums and enjoys international acclaim. The B-52s ended their farewell tour (called “The Final Tour Ever on Planet Earth”) at the Classic Center in early 2023 and now perform in a residency arrangement in Las Vegas.
Danny Bryant, general manager of the arena, said that the facility will be an “open building,” and added that Live Nation is among the concert promoters expected to bring shows to town.
“We’ll work with Live Nation and AEG (Worldwide) and all other promoters, and we’ll promote our own shows, as we do in the (Classic Center) theatre,” he said. “Anybody can come in and bring a show in and we’ll work with them to make it happen.
“I’m very excited. I think it’s a great fit and a great fit for Athens. It’s a nod to the history of Athens, but also a huge step forward so that we can come out and be a big celebration for the community. We know it’s going to be a party, which I think is also fun. I’m just really excited to kick this thing off.”
For tickets, visit www.ClassicCenter.com.
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