The recklessly exuberant self-titled Warner debut was a left-field success, selling tons of copies with little radio support. The followup, Wild Planet, picks up where The B52's left off, with mixed results; nevertheless, it enjoys even greater success. A dance-mix EP and two subsequent albums (Mesopotamia and Whammy!) provide further variations on the band's sound, but the "fun" sounds increasingly forced.
Guitarist Ricky Wilson passed away in 1985 from AIDS, before the release of the uneven Bouncing off the Satelites. With drummer Keith Strickland taking over Wilson's guitar duties, The B52's returned from an extended break and put out the hugely successful Cosmic Thing. Produced by Don Was and Nile Rodgers, Cosmic Thing successfully sythesized the band's wacky energy with just the right amount of streamlining.
~ Rick Clark