8. The Men of The B-52s (Ricky Wilson, Fred Schneider & Keith Strickland)
Fred Schneider, Ricky Wilson, and Keith Strickland, all openly gay, along with Cindy Wilsonand Kate Pierson, make up the American New Wave band The B-52s, known for their positive and enthusiastic, slightly wacky, take on the dance and surf music genre popular in the late ‘70s. They crafted their own “guys vs gals” call and response style and along with their thrift-store chic became famous everywhere for hits like “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack.” The group formed in 1977 when vocalist Cindy and her brother, guitarist, Ricky Wilson performed an impromptu jam session with keyboard and vocalist Pierson, drummer Strickland and cowbell player and vocalist Schneider at a Chinese restaurant. They chose their name from a beehive hairdo that resembled the nose of an airplane with the same name. Their first single “Rock Lobster” was an underground success and soon got them signed to Warner Bros. During the late ‘70s and early ‘80s they churned out a string of hits like “Planet Claire” and “Private Idaho.” While recording their third album in 1985, guitarist Ricky Wilson, who had been keeping his illness a secret from his band members, died from AIDS/HIV-related health complications at the age of 32, prompting a hiatus from their musical career. When the band regrouped, Strickland decided to switch from drums to guitar to keep Wilson’s trademark sound alive. In 1989 they released their most successful album to date, Cosmic Thing. The single “Love Shack” became their first Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately reaching No. 3 in November 1989. Their follow-up single “Roam” reached the same number in March 1990. That year they won The MTV Music Award for Best Group Video and Best Art Direction. As for their sexualities, Schnieder recalls coming out to his mother at an early age, she responded “Oh I know, Freddie” and continued vacuuming. In October 2010, Schnieder released a Christmas albumDestination… Christmas! with his side project The Superions. Strickland came out in a 1992 interview of Q Magazine, stating, “It was great. Nothing changed, but I felt it was important to just say it.” Strickland and his partner Mark presently share a home in Key West.
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