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The B-52s Announce Farewell Tour: ‘It’s Time for One Last Blowout’

"It has been a wild ride, that's for sure," said Cindy Wilson of the band's decades-long career.

By Hannah Dailey

Hannah Dailey

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Love shack or no love shack, The B-52s and their fans have just one more chance to get together in a little old place. After 45 years of performing and more than 20 million albums sold, the new-wave genre-defining group is gearing up to hit the road one last time on a farewell tour late this summer.

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Announced Tuesday (April 26), the tour will see the band’s three surviving members performing at least 15 shows across 11 venues in the United States between August and November, with more dates expected to be added in the next few weeks. Tickets for the tour go on pre-sale Wednesday (April 27) and fully on sale Friday (April 29); VIP meet-and-greet packages will be available on The B-52s’ website .

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“No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blowout with our friends and family … our fans,” said 70-year-old frontman Fred Schneider in a statement.

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Though it’s The B-52s who are stepping away from the limelight, they still plan on sharing the tour with two other groups: KC and The Sunshine Band and The Tubes are set to make individual guest appearances on select dates. “It’s going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts,” Schneider added about the special guests.

It’s not listed on the schedule, but technically, the “Love Shack” bandmates are kicking off the tour with a performance on Hollywood Boulevard with a Wednesday (April 27) performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live . Originally made up of four members who historically formed the group after drinks in an Athens, Ga., Chinese restaurant, The B-52s became famous for their party-perfect hits such as “ Rock Lobster” before guitarist Ricky Wilson died from an AIDS-related illness in 1985.

“It has been a wild ride, that’s for sure,” said Cindy Wilson, B-52s co-founder and Wilson’s sister, in a statement. “We feel truly blessed to have had an amazing career encouraging folks to dance, sing along with us and feel they can be whomever they are with our music.”

Also on the docket for the B-52s’ retirement celebration is a documentary created by MRC Films and Fulwell 73, newly announced to be released in early 2023. Directed by Craig Johnson and executive produced by Fred Armisen, the film will examine the band’s journey and influence and will include personal, never-before-seen photos and films.

“Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends’ at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world,” stated co-founder Kate Pierson. “It’s been cosmic.”

See the dates for The B-52s’ farewell tour below:

THE B-52S 2022 TOUR DATES

August 22 nd                 Seattle, WA                             McCaw Hall*

September 29 th           Mashantucket, CT                  Foxwoods Casino**

September 30 th           Boston, MA                             MGM Music Hall**

October 1 st                  Washington, DC                     The Anthem**

October 7 th                 Chicago, IL                               Chicago Theatre**

October 13 th               New York, NY                          Beacon Theatre**

October 14 th                New York, NY                          Beacon Theatre**

October 15 th                Atlantic City, NJ                       Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino**

October 19 th               Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 21 st                Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 22 nd               Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 28 th               San Francisco, CA                   The Masonic Auditorium*

October 29 th               San Francisco, CA                   The Masonic Auditorium*

November 4 th              Los Angeles, CA                       YouTube Theater**

November 11 th            Atlanta, GA                             The Fox Theatre**

*with Special Guests The Tubes

**with Special Guests KC & The Sunshine Band

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Music Interviews

New wave icons the b-52s are on the road for their last tour.

Scott Simon

Danny Hensel

Everyone knows that "love rules at the love shack:" NPR's Scott Simon speaks to The B-52s, the new wave icons out of Athens, Ga., who are now on the road for one last tour.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

It's time now to dance. And we got the perfect song.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LOVE SHACK")

THE B-52S: (Singing) If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says 15 miles to the love shack...

SIMON: "Love Shack" by the B-52s - Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland. The new wave band from Athens, Ga., has been rolling nonstop since 1977 through the good, the bad, the funky and the weird. But now the B-52s are about to put the brakes on. They're on the road - without Keith - for their farewell tour.

KATE PIERSON: The last tour.

FRED SCHNEIDER: Well, it's the last tour, but it doesn't mean we're not going to do shows anymore. This - we're not going to tour anymore, really. Well, we say that. But we're not going to do, like, an Elton John or Cher thing where we keep touring and say we're not.

PIERSON: I keep calling it the Cher-well tour because, you know, never say never. But being on the road is wearing, but playing the shows - it's great, so...

SCHNEIDER: Yeah, we'll do shows.

PIERSON: We'll do shows.

SCHNEIDER: We'll do more shows - especially, like, festivals and big outdoor places...

PIERSON: Fireworks.

SCHNEIDER: ...State fairs, bar mitzvahs...

CINDY WILSON: Kate does it for the fireworks.

PIERSON: That's right.

SCHNEIDER: ...Weddings.

SIMON: You're not ruling out much - I mean...

WILSON: (Laughter) Well, I think what he's trying to say is long tours and being away from home for a long time is hard.

SIMON: I wonder if you can bring us back a bit. I mean, a lot of people have wondered what was in the water of Athens, Ga., in the mid to late '70s?

WILSON: Fluoride.

SIMON: All right. But, I mean, you know, B-52, R.E.M.

PIERSON: Well, we...

SCHNEIDER: Well, there was nothing to do, so...

PIERSON: We were the first sort of new wave-y punk band. So we had to make our own fun. And we just one night had a flaming volcano at Hunan's Chinese restaurant. And we had - we didn't have money for food. We had five straws - six straws, actually, because our friend Owen Scott was with us. And we started jamming in Owen's basement after the flaming volcano, and magic was in the air. But we used to party and crash parties.

SCHNEIDER: Ruin parties.

WILSON: Oh, well, you know, it was - Athens had a really great vibe. You know, you didn't need a lot of money, which is why a lot of people ended up staying, you know, once they...

SCHNEIDER: Rents were, like, 60 bucks a month.

PIERSON: My rent was $15 a month. I had sort of the original love shack out in the country. It was set way back in the middle of a field.

SCHNEIDER: The love shack...

PIERSON: It was funky.

SCHNEIDER: It didn't have a bathroom, though.

SIMON: We...

SCHNEIDER: It had an outhouse.

SIMON: We don't need to hear everything, you understand.

SIMON: But that's all right. Well, all right, Fred Schneider.

SCHNEIDER: Yes.

PIERSON: Here.

SIMON: I think I speak for a lot of people when I ask...

SCHNEIDER: Are you crazy?

SIMON: ...Why - well, maybe you are - why "Rock Lobster" and not rockfish?

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROCK LOBSTER")

THE B-52S: (Singing) We were at a party. His earlobe fell in the deep. Someone reached in and grabbed it. It was a rock lobster.

SCHNEIDER: Well, I went to this place in Atlanta called the 2001 Disco, and they had slides of puppies, babies and lobsters on a grill. And I thought, oh, wait - oh, rock - rock lobster. And that's the way I think. So I came back, and...

SIMON: Poetic inspiration.

SCHNEIDER: ...I jammed on it. And we - the way we work is we jam, and...

WILSON: Through all the inspirations.

SCHNEIDER: Yeah.

WILSON: But Fred was a poet.

SCHNEIDER: We do things differently. There's no one leader or anything like that. Everyone really shares. And you could see that on stage because we all work together.

PIERSON: We write. The process of writing is by jamming, and then we...

SIMON: Yeah.

PIERSON: ...Collage things together.

SCHNEIDER: Kate and Cindy had never sung together before, and all of a sudden, they blended like no other...

WILSON: Like butter.

SCHNEIDER: ...People. Yeah, like Fleischmann's margarine.

THE B-52S: (Singing) Motion in the ocean - his air hose broke. Lots of trouble. Lots of bubble.

SIMON: On this tour, I'm told you're playing "Is That You Mo-Dean?"

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IS THAT YOU MO-DEAN?")

THE B-52S: (Singing) Waiting for bus Number 99 - going to the store for hot dogs and wine.

WILSON: You should tell that story, Fred.

SCHNEIDER: Oh.

WILSON: Yeah, what we used to do.

SCHNEIDER: Well, we used to - If Ricky broke a string, I was sort of, like - all of a sudden...

SIMON: This is Ricky Wilson, your brother, Cindy.

WILSON: Yes.

SCHNEIDER: I was the frontman.

WILSON: You told the jokes.

SCHNEIDER: I would get the audience to - it was Maureen Dean, (laughter) John Dean's wife. And she was called Mo Dean. So I thought, that's a good name for someone from outer space. And so I had the audience go, is that you, Mo-Dean? And I'd go, it's me, Modine.

THE B-52S: (Singing) Is that you, Mo-Dean? It's me, Mo-Dean. Is that you, Mo-Dean? On a UFO. Is that you, Mo-Dean? It's me, Mo-Dean. The interdimensional outer space being.

SCHNEIDER: And we'd go back and forth till Ricky...

WILSON: Fixed his guitar.

SCHNEIDER: ...Fixed his guitar. And then I'd just go, thank you. Or I'd say, are there any questions? And then I'd just make up questions 'cause I couldn't hear what the audience was saying and answer them.

WILSON: We had another imaginary entity, and it was Bronda (ph).

PIERSON: Yeah, when things would go wrong, Bronda did it.

SIMON: Oh, like the imaginary friend who lost his things (ph).

SCHNEIDER: The imaginary nemesis.

WILSON: Yeah. Yeah.

SIMON: Cindy?

WILSON: Yes, darling.

SIMON: I hope you don't mind. May I ask you about your brother Ricky?

WILSON: Oh, you know, yes, he's - he was very special. Of course, we all miss him very dearly. And it was like an atom bomb when Ricky passed, of course.

SIMON: He died, I guess, in 1985, right?

WILSON: Yes, he did. You know, and it was terrible. It was just - the worst thing, you know, personally, a lot of death and destruction was going on. And it was all very new and early in the whole set of AIDS.

SCHNEIDER: You were even afraid to say you were gay back then a lot of times because the response was - you know, you'd get beaten up in places sometimes.

WILSON: I think everybody went into a deep depression. And eventually, I sorted it out within myself that I'm going to always have Ricky in - you know, he's always going to be with me.

PIERSON: Yeah.

(SOUNDBITE OF THE B-52S SONG, "PRIVATE IDAHO")

PIERSON: He had such a unique playing style that he sort of had a rhythmic part on some of the lower strings, and then he'd have a melodic part on the top strings. And he's just, like, such a - and he would just be on fire when he played on stage. That's why he broke so many strings because he was just dynamic and...

WILSON: Yeah...

PIERSON: He used the guitar - it was almost like a gun. You know, it was just like...

WILSON: Well, it was complete...

PIERSON: ...Firing.

WILSON: ...Concentration.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PRIVATE IDAHO")

THE B-52S: (Singing) You're livin' in your own private Idaho. You're livin' in your own private Idaho.

SIMON: It must wince a little to think that he - well, just to lose him personally and to think he didn't see so much of your success, although I guess he has seen it, hasn't he?

PIERSON: We conjured a lot of his spirit, I think, when we did "Cosmic Thing." We thought that was the end kind of of our band when Ricky died. But we came back together. Keith started writing some music. And we started getting back together and jamming.

WILSON: You know, Keith was in a big depression. And the way he get through it is writing music. And we didn't know, you know, with Warner Brothers if we were going to do another record. And then he approached us and said, well, do you want to try, you know? And so we went to a studio and just played around to see how we could do it. And it felt like Ricky was in the studio.

PIERSON: It did.

WILSON: And it became obvious that it was a healing process for us all.

SIMON: The music, making music...

PIERSON: Making music together. And then when it started getting radio play, you know, that was affirmation.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ROAM")

THE B-52S: (Singing) Roam if you want to. Roam around the world. Roam if you want to, without wings, without wheels.

SIMON: What do you see when you look out at today's audiences? What do you notice about them?

SCHNEIDER: They're still dancing no matter what age they are. I mean, some people sit down. I don't know why. But most people stand and dance the whole hour and 15 minutes we're on.

PIERSON: And I noticed a lot of young people - and it seems much more lately, and I think it's because of the internet and YouTube and all the people posting stuff - that there are all these young kids there now and some little kids really dancing, too. But...

SCHNEIDER: We had a 4-year-old...

PIERSON: ...It's - to have a much younger audience, too.

WILSON: Fred sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star..."

SCHNEIDER: To a 4-year-old. Well, we all did.

PIERSON: We all did.

PIERSON: Very cute.

WILSON: It was very cute.

SCHNEIDER: Yeah, she was tiny. I forgot kids are that tiny.

WILSON: You forgot?

SIMON: They're kids, really. I mean...

SCHNEIDER: Well, I mean...

PIERSON: They grow.

SCHNEIDER: That tiny?

WILSON: Sometimes, they grow.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DEADBEAT CLUB")

THE B-52S: (Singing) Going down to Allen's for a 25-cent beer.

SIMON: Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson of the B-52s. Their last tour on earth is going on now. I want to thank you all for being with us and for so much good music. Thank you.

SCHNEIDER: Thank you.

WILSON: Thanks a lot.

PIERSON: Thanks so much.

THE B-52S: (Singing) We're the deadbeat club. Deadbeat club. We're the deadbeat club. Deadbeat club.

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

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The B-52s to perform in Athens as the last stop on their farewell tour

The B-52s will be ending their farewell tour in Athens on November 15, 2022. The new wave band had previously announced that their final North American tour would span ten cities across the United States, but they’ve added a special show back in Athens, where the band was formed in 1976.

The B-52s will perform at the Classic Center Theater on November 15 at 7:30 p.m. with ticket prices ranging from $50.00 to $195.00. All of the show’s proceeds will go to local Athens charities.

Tickets will be made available on The Classic Center website at noon on Friday, October 14, but a presale will open up today for members of The Classic Center Cultural Foundation. More information can be found on the Classics Center website: https://classiccenter.com/510/The-B-52s

• Farewell Tour

The B-52s are Gearing Up for One Last Ride

by Catherine Walthall April 26, 2022, 2:25 pm

The new wave rockers from Athens, Georgia, are preparing for their final tour 45 years after their first live performance.

Videos by American Songwriter

The B-52s, who are known for songs like “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster,” have announced their farewell tour which will hit 11 cities across the United States. The first show will kick off The B-52s Farewell Tour on August 22 in Seattle, and the band will perform for the last time on November 11 in Atlanta.

“It has been a wild ride, that’s for sure,” band member Cindy Wilson (vocals, percussion) said in a statement. “We feel truly blessed to have had an amazing career encouraging folks to dance, sing along with us, and feel they can be whomever they are with our music.”

Kate Pierson (vocals, percussion) added, “Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It’s been cosmic.”

And for their grand finale, KC and The Sunshine Band will join The B-52s as special guests in addition to The Tubes. More information on The B-52s Farewell Tour can be found HERE .

“No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road,” Fred Schneider said, “it’s time for one last blow-out with our friends and family…our fans. And with KC & The Sunshine Band and The Tubes on board, it’s going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts.”

Check out The B-52s tour dates below.

THE B-52S 2022 TOUR DATES

August 22nd Seattle, WA McCaw Hall* September 29th Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino** September 30th Boston, MA MGM Music Hall** October 1st Washington, DC The Anthem** October 7th Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre** October 13th New York, NY Beacon Theatre** October 14th New York, NY Beacon Theatre** October 15th Atlantic City, NJ Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino** October 19th Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre October 21st Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre October 22nd Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre October 28th San Francisco, CA The Masonic Auditorium* October 29th San Francisco, CA The Masonic Auditorium* November 4th Los Angeles, CA YouTube Theater** November 11th Atlanta, GA The Fox Theatre**

*with Special Guests The Tubes **with Special Guests KC & The Sunshine Band

Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

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B-52s Announce Farewell Tour Dates

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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Some 45 years after their first performance, new wave icons the B-52s have announced a farewell tour that kicks off this summer.

The jaunt — billed as “Their final tour ever of planet Earth” — will hit 11 cities across the U.S., launching August 22 in Seattle and running through November 11, where it will finish at Atlanta’s legendary Fox Theatre, not far from their home base of Athens, Georgia. More shows will be added in the coming weeks; see current routing below.

The pre-sale begins tomorrow, April 27, at 12 p.m. ET. KC and the Sunshine Band and the Tubes are set to make special guest appearances on select dates.

To kick off the tour, the B-52s will perform on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” tomorrow (April 27) as well.

MRC Films and Fulwell 73 have announced that the film documentary on the band will be released in early 2023. Directed by Craig Johnson (Skeleton Twins; Wilson; Alex Strangelove) and executive-produced by Fred Armisen, the film will trace the history and influence of the band. The film has also been given generous support of all band members including many personal archival photos and films that have never been released.

Says co-founder Kate Pierson, “Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends’ at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It’s been cosmic.”

Cindy Wilson, who also co-founded the band with her beloved late brother, Ricky, adds, “It has been a wild ride, that’s for sure. We feel truly blessed to have had an amazing career encouraging folks to dance, sing along with us and feel they can be whomever they are with our music.”

Fred Schneider, co-founder and perhaps the most unique front man in rock, sums up the band’s decision to retire from the road, “No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blow-out with our friends and family…our fans. And with KC & The Sunshine Band and The Tubes on board, it’s going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts.”

THE B-52S 2022 TOUR DATES

August 22 nd                 Seattle, WA                            McCaw Hall*

September 29 th           Mashantucket, CT                  Foxwoods Casino**

September 30 th           Boston, MA                            MGM Music Hall**

October 1 st                  Washington, DC                     The Anthem**

October 7 th                 Chicago, IL                              Chicago Theatre**

October 13 th               New York, NY                         Beacon Theatre**

October 14 th                New York, NY                         Beacon Theatre**

October 15 th                Atlantic City, NJ                      Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino**

October 19 th               Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 21 st                Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 22 nd               Las Vegas, NV                         The Venetian Theatre

October 28 th               San Francisco, CA                   The Masonic Auditorium*

October 29 th               San Francisco, CA                   The Masonic Auditorium*

November 4 th              Los Angeles, CA                      YouTube Theater**

November 11 th            Atlanta, GA                            The Fox Theatre**

*with Special Guests The Tubes

**with Special Guests KC & The Sunshine Band

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Boarding Up The Love Shack: The B-52s’ Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth

UPDATE: This show has been postponed until Jan. 10 due to illness.

“The B-52s started the music scene as we think of it,” says William Orten “Ort” Carlton in the 1986 documentary Athens, GA: Inside/Out. For fans of Athens music of a certain age, the above statement from Ort is absolutely true.

No, they weren’t the first band of note to come from the Classic City, but they were the first to garner a worldwide audience. Similarly, they didn’t sell the most records, but you’d be hard pressed to find any active pop music fan from the past 40 years or so that couldn’t identify “Rock Lobster” immediately upon hearing its opening riff. In this respect, the B’s have more in common with The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd—neither of whom have probably ever been mentioned in the same sentence with Athens’ ultimate party band—than, say, Pylon. Even R.E.M.’s iconic opening to “The One I Love” doesn’t own this status.

When the group, which left Athens for New York in 1979 in advance of their debut album, announced their “Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth” last April, locals were understandably disconcerted to see no Athens date listed. The bummed-out buzz went something like, “How can they not play Athens?” This seemingly deliberate oversight was remedied in such spectacular fashion a few weeks ago (i.e. an instant sell out!) that it’s difficult to imagine this wasn’t a back pocket plan all along. 

On this occasion, though, it’s also emotionally difficult to stack yet another portion of Athens’ identity into the memory closet. It was difficult enough when R.E.M. amicably closed up shop in 2011. Even though the days of seeing Pete Buck walk down the street with a mandolin case had ceased to be, the band was still an undeniable supporting pillar of how the Athens scene thought of itself. Even if this wasn’t true at a personal level, it was quite true on a deeply psychological one. And while the B-52s haven’t called Athens home in a very long time, there remains a symbiotic relationship between the town and the band whereby we each claim each other and speak lovingly when we do. 

Any amount of scratching deeper than the most superficial aspects of the band’s whimsical retro-futurism and party band presence reveals a profoundly interesting exploration of both accelerated culture and reinvention. For example, the beehive-bouffant hairdos sported both by Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson were seen as decidedly retro when, in fact, they’d been mainstream fashion barely a decade before the band’s creation. Of course, for members and fans in their 20s at the time, this would have meant half their lives earlier. So, from that perspective, it’s understandable. Similarly, the surf rock riffs peppered throughout the band’s earliest tunes, many of which would wind up on the debut album, were inspired by smash hits from the group’s childhood. It’s not unusual for folks of this age to find comfort in the totems of childhood memories even as they actively create their own world.

Athens has changed quite a bit since the late 1970s. The absolute magnificence of that understatement only reveals the extent to which it is true. We’re now in a previously unthinkable place where it’s not unusual for incoming freshmen to be completely unfamiliar with R.E.M. and have no idea the B-52s ever lived here. To paraphrase Exodus, there arose a new king who did not know. Although this may pain decades-long residents and music fans, it’s not like the B-52s were intentionally built for permanence, no matter what level of such they achieved. There’s so much more to the B’s story worthy of deep exploration, and there’s not enough newsprint here to even begin to tackle it. For that, keep your eyes peeled for the soon-to-be-released book by local musicians Scott Creney and Brigette Adair Herron, The Story of the B-52s: Neon Side of Town, courtesy of Palgrave Macmillan.

If, as Ort noted less than 10 years after the group’s first performance, the B’s started the music scene as we think of it, and we agree that their ebullient disruption was a profound act of reinvention and dream-working, then we must, at some level, perceive the Athens music scene as one capable of being reinvented and reimagined. And, beyond that acknowledgement, that our scene is one in which disruption and reinvention are necessarily desirable. Athens changes imperceptibly all the time. Once decades have gotten behind us, familiar landmarks, establishments and people have long passed. Even in just the past three years, we’ve experienced the loss of such seemingly permanent establishments—and crucial music scene incubators—like the Caledonia Lounge, Go Bar and the eatery that employed untold numbers of musicians, The Grit. Next year’s incoming freshman class will have no memory of any of them. 

The end of road life for the B-52s doesn’t signal the end of the band as such, and they’ve made that clear. Even so, it exists as a mile-marker mapping the distance from what was once a familiar portion of the identity of Athens music to the present day. But the ultimate party band never intended to be cast in plaster in 1977 (first live performance), 1979 (debut album), 1985 (the death of founding member Ricky Wilson), 1989 (the release of the multi-platinum selling Cosmic Thing ), nor in 2022 on this final tour. While their place in both the history of our own private Idaho and the pop music world is permanent and undeniable, their core inspiring quality of being a harbinger of change while also celebrating the recently familiar is also the story of the Athens scene writ large. In terms of self-perception, it’s a Faulknerian proposition à la, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

If the B-52s did indeed create the music scene as we think of it, then the best tribute to this “tacky little dance band” we could possibly embrace is to remain wide-eyed, excited and hopeful that the cosmic undertones of the music scene of Athens will continue to fuel the reaching of spectacular possibility to such a degree that it’s impossible to imagine it was ever not so.

WHAT: The B-52s Farewell Tour WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: The Classic Center HOW MUCH: SOLD OUT!

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B-52’s Announce Farewell Tour

The B-52's have announced they will be hitting the road for the final time this year. They're slated to kick off a North American farewell tour on Aug. 22 in Seattle and wrap up on Nov. 11 in Atlanta.

The band will be joined by guests KC and the Sunshine Band and the Tubes at select stops of the tour. Tickets will go on sale on April 29 at the B-52's website . You can see a list of tour dates below, but according to a press release, more shows will be added to the schedule in the coming weeks.

“Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world," B-52's cofounder Kate Pierson said. "It’s been cosmic.”

“No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blowout with our friends and family … our fans," cofounder Fred Schneider added. "And with KC and the Sunshine Band and the Tubes on board, it’s going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts.”

The B-52's are also expecting a documentary about their career, directed by Craig Johnson and featuring archival footage and photos. The film is set to arrive sometime in early 2023.

The B-52's Farewell Tour 2022 Aug. 22 - Seattle, WA @ McCaw Hall* Sept. 29 - Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Casino** Sept. 30 - Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall** Oct. 1 - Washington, DC @ The Anthem** Oct. 7 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre** Oct. 13 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre** Oct. 14 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre** Oct. 15 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino** Oct. 19 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre Oct. 21 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre Oct. 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre Oct. 28 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic Auditorium* Oct. 29 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic Auditorium* Nov. 4 - Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater** Nov. 11 - Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theatre**

*with Special Guests The Tubes **with Special Guests KC & The Sunshine Band

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The B-52's Announce Farewell Concert Tour

Legendary party band the B-52's are taking fans on one last trip to the "Love Shack" when Fred Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson embark on the group's farewell tour this year. The jaunt officially launches on August 22 in Seattle, WA, with special guests the Tubes. The following date isn't until September 29, in Mashantucket, CT, with KC and the Sunshine Band. The band has shows lined up in cities including Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco, and Atlantic City, with the last date on the tour set for November 11: Atlanta, in the B-52's home state of Georgia. More shows are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. See the complete itinerary as it stands now below.

Tickets for the B-52s’ farewell tour will go on sale April 29 at 12 p.m. ET. A pre-sale will begin tomorrow, April 27, at 12 p.m. ET. Full information is available on the band’s website .  

"No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it's time for one last blow-out with our friends and family... our fans. And with KC & The Sunshine Band and The Tubes on board, it's going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts," Fred Schneider said of the farewell tour.

"Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends' at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It's been cosmic," added Kate Pierson.

"It has been a wild ride, that's for sure,” chimed in Cindy Wilson. "We feel truly blessed to have had an amazing career encouraging folks to dance, sing along with us and feel they can be whomever they are with our music."

The B-52s Farewell Tour Dates

August 22 – Seattle, WA @ McCaw Hall (with the Tubes) September 29 – Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Casino (with KC and the Sunshine Band) September 30 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 1 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 7 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 13 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 14 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 15 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino (with KC and the Sunshine Band) October 19 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre October 21 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre October 22 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre October 28 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic Auditorium (with the Tubes) October 29 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic Auditorium (with the Tubes) November 4 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater (with KC and the Sunshine Band) November 11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theatre (with KC and the Sunshine Band)

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The b-52's announce farewell tour, with a stop in their native georgia.

The Athens, Ga.-based band has been on the road for decades with such hits as 'Love Shack,' 'Roam,' and 'Rock Lobster.'

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NEW YORK (AP) — The quirky dance-pop outfit The B-52s are hitting the road one last time for a final tour this summer that will roam from coast to coast.

“No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blow-out,” said Fred Schneider, co-founder and singer for the Athens, Georgia-based band, in a statement.

The band burst onto the New Wave scene in 1979 with songs like “Rock Lobster” and cracked the pop charts in the late ’80s with the party classics “Love Shack” and “Roam.”

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Their North American farewell tour will visit 10 cities across the U.S., kicking off Aug. 22 in Seattle and ending Nov. 11 in Atlanta. Stops include Boston, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Supporting the band will be The Tubes or KC & The Sunshine Band.

Tickets are available at The B-52s.com.

“Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends’ at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It’s been cosmic,” said co-founder Kate Pierson in a statement.

While the band may be saying goodbye from the road, the members are the subject of a documentary to be released in 2023 directed by Craig Johnson and produced by Fred Armisen.

B-52s postpone sold-out Athens concert due to illness, rescheduled for January

The Classic Center Theatre on Friday announced that the upcoming B-52s farewell concert scheduled for Nov. 15 has been postponed and rescheduled Jan. 10.

Though the venue's press release did not include a reason for cancellation, a breaking story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution  regarding the postponement of the band's three upcoming Fox Theatre dates in Atlanta simply cited "illness." 

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Ticket holders for the sold-out Classic Center performance should retain all tickets for the Nov. 15 concert, according to the news release. Original ticket purchases will be valid for the new date.

Those who will be unable to attend the Jan. 10 date should contact the Classic Center ticket office prior to Dec. 3, 2022, after which time refunds will no longer be allowed.

The B-52s formed in Athens in 1976 and began their farewell tour earlier this fall. The Classic Center concert is to be the band's final live performance.

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B-52s announce farewell tour, Atlantic City show. Here are the band's Jersey roots

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One more trip to the “Love Shack” for fans of the B-52s.

The quirky hitmakers, whose new wave classics include “Rock Lobster,” “Roam,” “Private Idaho,” “Good Stuff” and “Love Shack,” are saying goodbye and have announced their “Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth.”

Upcoming area shows include Oct. 15 at Ovation Hall inside the Ocean Casino in Atlantic City, and Oct. 13 and 14 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

KC & The Sunshine Band are the openers for the area shows. Tickets go on sale at noon Friday, April 29, via www.theb52s.com/tour . The band will appear on the Wednesday, April 27, episode of ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it's time for one last blow-out with our friends and family … our fans,” said frontman Fred Schneider in a statement. “And with KC & The Sunshine Band and The Tubes on board, it's going to be one hell of a farewell party at these concerts.”

The group was founded in 1976 in Athens, Ga., but there are Jersey roots. Schneider grew up in Oceanport and went to Shore Regional High School. Kate Pierson was born in Weehawken and grew up in Rutherford.

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“I had a typical childhood growing up, I built forts in the woods and I played in the neighborhood,” said Schneider previously to the Asbury Park Press.

Schneider headed south to attend forestry school at the University of Georgia in Athens.

“I wanted to be a conservationist,” Schneider said. “I wanted to save animals who were in danger of becoming extinct.”

Instead, he discovered another type of wildlife in the artist community of Athens. Schneider met up with drummer Keith Strickland and guitarist Ricky Wilson, and was eventually joined by Wilson's kid sister, Cindy, and Kate Pierson, all of whom formed the B-52s.

The first show was in 1977. By 1978, the band had recorded its signature tune “Rock Lobster.” Mixing Duane Eddy guitars with beehive hairdos, blippy new-wave sounds, art-school camp and a touch of Cold War anxiety, the B-52s carved themselves out a singular and immediately identifiable niche in rock 'n' roll.

By the way, “B-52” refers to a type of bouffant hairdo, not the bomber.

The final tour begins Aug. 22 in Seattle.

B-52s Farewell Tour dates

Aug. 22 at Seattle, McCaw Hall

Sept. 29 at Mashantucket, Conn., Foxwoods Casino

Sept. 30 at Boston, MGM Music Hall

Oct. 1 at Washington, D.C., The Anthem

Oct. 7 at Chicago, Chicago Theatre

Oct. 13 at New York, Beacon Theatre

Oct. 14 at New York, Beacon Theatre

Oct. 15 at Atlantic City, Ovation Hall, Ocean Casino

Oct. 19 at Las Vegas, The Venetian Theatre

Oct. 21 at Las Vegas, The Venetian Theatre

Oct. 22 at Las Vegas, The Venetian Theatre

Oct. 28 at San Francisco, The Masonic Auditorium

Oct. 29 at San Francisco, The Masonic Auditorium

Nov. 4 at Los Angeles, YouTube Theater

Nov. 11 at Atlanta, The Fox Theatre

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: B-52s farewell tour includes Atlantic City NJ show

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B-52s postpone farewell concert in Athens

Photos: The B-52s through the years 2020: Kate Pierson of the B-52's performs onstage as Woman's Day Celebrates the 17th annual Red Dress Awards on February 4, 2020, in New York City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Women's Day)

It’s a show that was supposed to have taken place tomorrow night at the Classic Center in downtown Athens: the B-52s career ending concert has been postponed until January 10. The band cites member illness as the reason and says tickets for Tuesday’s show will be honored in January.

From the Visit Athens Ga website…

Due to illness the B-52s Farewell Tour performance previously scheduled for this  Tuesday, November 15, 2022  at The Classic Center Theatre has been postponed and has been  rescheduled  for  Tuesday, January 10, 2023.  The Classic Center hopes that you are still able to join as the B-52s end their final tour of the cosmos where it all began, Athens!

Ticket holders should retain  all  tickets to the November date, original purchases will be valid for the new date. If you are  able  to attend the new date, there is no need to contact The Classic Center. If you are  unable  to attend the new day in January, please contact our friendly Ticket Office Specialists  prior to December 3, 2022 .  Refunds will not be allowed after December 3 .

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The B-52s 2022 farewell tour ends at the Fox Theatre Nov. 11-13

The love shack is closing shop.

The quirky B-52s, who formed in Athens in the mid-1970s, announced what they are describing as a farewell tour later this year. The final stop will be at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre for three dates: Friday, Nov. 11 through Sunday, Nov. 13.

Currently, the tour covers just 11 cities but more will be added.

Prices ranges from $49.50 to $249.50.

At the Fox, 1970s disco legends K.C. and the Sunshine Band will join the B-52s.

To goose sales, the band is scheduled to perform on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Wednesday.

In a press release, Kate Pierson, 73, wrote: “Who knew what started as a way to have some fun and play music for our friends’ at house parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world. It’s been cosmic.”

Cindy Wilson, 65, whose late brother Ricky helped launch the band, added: “It has been a wild ride, that’s for sure. We feel truly blessed to have had an amazing career encouraging folks to dance, sing along with us and feel they can be whomever they are with our music.”

Frontman Fred Schneider, who is 70, said: “No one likes to throw a party more than we do, but after almost a half-century on the road, it’s time for one last blow-out with our friends and family…our fans.”

The band’s last concert in Atlanta was in the fall of 2019 at Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park. Its last stop at the Fox Theatre was in 2015. The B-52s have performed in many venues over the years in Atlanta including Atlanta Symphony Hall, Turner Field, Piedmont Park, Six Flags and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

There are also plans to create a documentary history of the band, which has had hits over the years including “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” ‘Strobe Light,” “Party Out of Bounds,” “Private Idaho,” “Love Shack” and “Roam.”

THE B-52S 2022 TOUR DATES SO FAR

August 22 Seattle, WA McCaw Hall*

September 29 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Casino**

September 30 Boston, MA MGM Music Hall**

October 1 Washington, DC The Anthem**

October 7 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre**

October 13 New York, NY Beacon Theatre**

October 14 New York, NY Beacon Theatre**

October 15 Atlantic City, NJ Ovation Hall – Ocean Casino**

October 19 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre

October 21 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre

October 22 Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Theatre

October 28 San Francisco, CA The Masonic Auditorium*

October 29 San Francisco, CA The Masonic Auditorium*

November 4 Los Angeles, CA YouTube Theater**

November 11-13 Atlanta, The Fox Theatre**

*with Special Guests The Tubes

**with Special Guests KC & The Sunshine Band

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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The B-52s are an American new wave band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976 and currently consists of Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland and Cindy Wilson.

The meeting of The B-52s could be described as a stroke of fate. After sharing some strong alcoholic beverages at a Chinese restaurant in Georgia, vocalist Cindy Wilson and her older brother guitarist Ricky joined vocalist Kate Pierson, original drummer and percussionist Keith Strickland and vocalist Fred Schneider in an impromptu musical jam. Shortly after they played their first gig as a unit at a friend's Valentine's Day party.

The band's managed to gain crucial backing from record labels in the early days partially helped by the strength of their debut single 'Rock Lobster' which charted worldwide. In 1979 The B-52's signed contracts with Warner Bros. Records for North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand; and with Island Records for the UK, Europe, and Asia.

The debut self titled album went on to chart within the top 30 of the UK charts and top 60 in the US, a moderate success for a new artist. The next album 'Wild Planet' spawned three top 5 US dance chart hits and increased the band's chart peaks around the world. On October 12, 1985 Ricky Wilson died from the illness HIV/AIDS at the age of 32 with his other bandmates unaware he was even suffering from the disease. With Cindy Wilson devastated by her brother's death, and her bandmates too being depressed about Ricky's passing, the band went into seclusion and did not tour to promote their album nor the group, prompting a hiatus from their musical careers.

They reformed in 1989 with the 'Cosmic Thing' album which included a number of hit worldwide singles, including their biggest US Billboard hit 'Love Shack'. In 1990 the B-52's were nominated for 4 MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year. They won two awards, Best Group Video and Best Art Direction. Their tour schedule has been consistent throughout their career.

Live reviews

The B-52s are a slice of classic 60s style rock and they have built a loyal following for their sound over their career which has now spanned an impressive three decades. They perform with the same level of enthusiasm that first gained them attention and there is an equal emphasis on the easygoing and fun during their live show.

They warm the crowd with tracks from their latest LP 'Funplex' and they remain enthusiastic yet the real roars of approval come for the first of the early singles 'Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland' which is sang back in force by the room in its entirety much to the delight of the band. They applaud the crowd after their own applause die down and thank them for the continued support, citing they are fact that they continue to visit the UK. After some slick vocal acrobatics on 'Is That You, Mo-Dean?' and a great demonstration of the disjointed instrumentals on '6060-842' the audience knows the band are warming them up to a double-hit finale.

They were not wrong as the whole crowd erupts in equal amounts of joy for 'Love Shack' and 'Rock Lobster' both of which are sang back note perfectly as the band takes its final bows.

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Since 2008 American new wave band, the B-52s, have been back in action. In 2008 the banded dropped the apostrophe in their name and release a new album, ‘Funplex.’ For the past six years the B-52s have been delivering their brand of high-energy rock and roll pop in large arena and festival venues.

A B-52s concert always promises fun. If you want to dance the night away, then the B-52s’ brand of ‘loud, sexy rock and roll with the beat turned up to hot pink’ (as described by drummer and guitarist, Keith Strickland) might be just right for you.

After thirty-six years of performing with the B-52s, front women Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson really know how to work a crowd. They teasingly let the audience guess what song is up next as they offer allusive clues as they chat amongst themselves into their microphones. Of course, the crowd is guaranteed to go wild once they realise they are about to be treated to renditions of pop classics, ‘Rock Lobster’ And ‘Love Shack.’ You’ll struggle to shake these catchy tunes from your head for days after the gig!

The B-52s promise a fun evening of dancing and singing along to some fun pop hits.

I missed the opening act Berlin, saw OMD, they were ok, they played most of the pop songs.They played well but that will be the last time for me. Too much sing along,clapping along to every song really felt cheesy.

I saw the b52s when I was young and they were too. they blew me away the first time I saw them at an outdoor show.

I saw an older version that managed to play well but most of the show were songs that the ladies sang and Fred left the stage for a few songs and came back and sang again. He looked very old and I thought he would sing more of the early hits everybody loves. He did not look well and he kept a low profile.

I enjoyed the show but missed Fred on the stage.

Glad I went but again I knew this is the last b52 show for me.

They are a great band and brought a smile to my face every time I heard them.

I have to say that OMD rocked the show last night. Best act of the night. They sounded just like they did in the '80s. They had so much energy. The crowd was really bummed when they announced their last song. I really hope that they tour again as a headliner.

Berlin was great too! Terri Nunn was fantastic. Her voice was clear and crisp. I felt bad that they were the first band to go on. A lot of seats were empty. But those people missed out on a great show. Their new songs were great. I can't wait to listen to the new album

The B-52's were a disappointment. Some songs they sounded great and others not so much. I don't blame them I blame the sound engineer. They mix was off. Cindy's mic was so low you couldn't hear her at all. Kate's mic was way too loud that it was almost distorted. Fred was Fred.

When they were playing their classic hits the crowd was involved and dancing, but they played a lot of stuff that most of the crowd didn't know, and the crowd would sit down and get on their phones. I was more impressed by the other groups on the tour with them. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark was fantastic, and Berlin was as well. OMD and Berlin were more engaged with the crowd, and the lead singer of Berlin even came out into the crowd for one song. The B-52s just never quite seemed to sync with the crowd. Overall I would rate this as a great concert experience, but was slightly disappointed with the B-52's. They did, however, eventually get around to most of the classic hits that everyone wanted to hear.

Probably the most fun concert I have been to in 20 years. AC/DC and Rammstein had better setup, Black Sabbath was WAY more crowded, Van Halen and The Fixx were ones you just couldn't miss because you never knew when they would be back, but The B-52s actually had every seat emptied and people dancing all over the place. How they can still sound so good is a total mystery. They have lost NOTHING with time. Out of 2 or 3 hundred concerts I have been to - that was the most fun. Still a great party band.

Ended up going both nights Wed and Thur. So much fun.The B's were in top form. The girls sounded and looked great and Fred was fun as ever. You could feel the entire floor shifting while the crowd Danced to classic B tunes...Claude the lobster was the perfect closer...fun fun fun, Hope they come back next year.Great to see my fav. Party band I grew up with...Would have liked to buy a "Whammy" tee shirt...nonetheless I got one of each offered. love The B-52's :)

Show was very good. A little political chat that could have been avoided but they played well and with enthusiasm. The venue is ok except the seating sucks. Think high school auditorium with metal seats. And the seats are narrow and bolted together. If the guy next to you is fat, you will get to know him better than you wanted. Not tiered either. Kosars steakhouse is the best part of the Rocksino. Parking is fairly easy and no parking fee.

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our Moda Center B52’s concert especially since it was presented in the Cloud setting. We attended Depeche Mode last year at this same venue and it was unbearably hot during the entire show....B52’s experience was dramatically different hence making it way more enjoyable! Song choice and stage presentation were both superb...I personally hadn’t attended a B52’s concert yet and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Wednesday, 8/14 -- Berlin, OMD, & B-52s!! The 1st two bands were very impressive... the B-52s, unfortunately, kept losing steam throughout their set and their performance was pretty underwhelming. The 1st song, Private Idaho, was probably the best. People got bored and restless -- we were all kind of disappointed, I've been a huge fan for years. If you have a choice of two different groups to see, pick the other one, lol.

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Most played:

• Los Angeles (LA) (58)
• New York (NYC) (34)
• SF Bay Area (34)
• Las Vegas (24)
• Philadelphia (23)

Appears most with:

• Culture Club (34)
• BERLIN (31)
• Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey (31)
• The Go-Go's (28)
• Orchestral Manoeuvres In Th... (28)

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