The B-52’s and the Athens, Georgia Music Scene for Flashback Friday

As Alabama football prepares for its first Georgia showdown in Athens since 2008, we look at this college city's vibrant music scene for this B101.7 Flashback Friday!

Widespread Panic, Indigo Girls, Matthew Sweet, and Corey Smith are among the major names coming out of Athens, and playing historic venues like the 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre.

Still, there are two bands which stand out in my mind, The B-52's and R.E.M. I was a bit torn on which one to put in the spotlight, and leaned on the group that gave us the party anthem, 'Love Shack.'

The B-52's were around plugging away all through the 80s, but it wasn't until the end of the decade that they would become a household name. 1989's 'Love Shack,' their first Billboard Top 40 charting song, as it reached #3 and remains they're biggest hit. A song which gives reference to their Georgia roots by singing about "heading down the Atlanta highway."

The B-52's 'Love Shack'

The B-52's music is heavily rooted in New Wave and 60s, which a catalog of very eclectic songs, like 'Rock Lobster.'  The band's first single, which was recorded in 1978.  Here's a bizarre song with an infectious 60s beach grove heavy on keyboards.  It's a dance song, its a party song, it's wildly awesome!

'Rock Lobster' passed the test of time, as it continues to surface in such ways as being featured on the FOX-TV animated series, Family Guy.  Lead character, Peter Griffin performed a quick cover on a episode and called it, 'Iraq Lobster.'

Here, take a look!

Family Guy's Peter Griffin 'Iraq Lobster'

Let's get to original.  Below is a performance clip from 1980, as The B-52's perform 'Rock Lobster' for an Australian countdown show.

The B-52 'Rock Lobster'

Listen to B101.7 Friday at 5 for when I feature the spotlight song on the radio! Saturday night catch a whole night of flashbacks during the B101.7 Saturday Night Party, starting at 8pm.

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