I directed the video live with two cameras. The club was so loud that even with headphones none of us could hear each other. I told the cameramen to do their best and I'd switch as needed. I had to shout once for camera one and twice for camera two so they'd know I was taking their camera. I probably had to dump from one to the other at 5:45 because of a dancer in the way or something.
I saw them in an arena in the early 80s, and during the "Down! Down!" part of this song, the entire arena full of people fell to the floor and jumped back up when the riff resumed. It was amazing.
While everyone else in the band is going completely wild, Ricky Wilson in his quiet genius, stands there stoically driving the whole performance forward as he cranks out the best rock guitar rifs ever. Gone but not forgotten.
I saw the b-52's at the longhorn club in Minneapolis in the late '70s. They knew only six songs, and were quite proud of that, so they played Rock lobster several times. It was one of my first dates with my wife. We're still married we're like Rock Lobsters
@@paulwalrond8836 Yikes. If you think the entire world just stopped being creative except for a very small sliver of time that just happened to align with your youth, you might want to take a look inward first.
LOVE THIS!!! I didn't know this video existed. My friends and I were all there at this concert. It was hot & sweaty and wonderful. We never missed a B's show anywhere near Atlanta from the birthday party at the Jewish Country Club on. I remember the first time going down down to the floor during Rock L. was at Emory Univ Dining Hall show even before this one. This band was way ahead of it's time and set the standard for Party bands. We honored them with gallons of sweat on the dancefloor.
That’s a amazing that you saw them at this time. I’ve been watching a few of their early live shows on RU-vid and it has the vibe of going to the Rocky horror picture show viewing. It just looks do damn fun.
"Red snappers snapping -clam shells clapping-muscles flexing- flippers flapping." That is some frightening imagery.This song is a riot & a work of genius.
This song was fire from day one! The band is not as tight as they would be months later, but still the energy is there! This is internet gold! Thank you for posting!
when we heard this stuff as teenagers back in the 70s we were blown away. It was so contagious and the girls were so pretty/strange - and the band so willing to go out on a limb and be plain weird, that we were addicted. right down to the Mosrite guitar with only 4 strings - and Kate's staccatto keyboarding - they were genius. I loved best when the girls sang together, like on dirty back road.
I've posted on this before, but I'm drunk and watching it again, so i have to say this is the gig i would have killed to be at! if music was anymore exciting the world would explode!!! the best clip on youtube FACT!
So f$?@#% cool Imagine what it was to actually hear and see this young group for their first times Fantastic and how blessed are we for these unique geniuses to be in such a outstanding band ❤️👌💙😘
It's weird to think that 1) The B-52s started out rockin' out and 2) How little it takes to legitimately rock out. I've watched this video at least 50 times, and I'm always amazed. Thanks for uploading it!
Born in '78 & this is my fave song in the whole world.......EVER! I can't help but smile inside & want to rock the fuck out every time I hear it. Fab rare footage. Thanks for sharing :)
Early vids? Led Zeppelin was a well established famous band and had already toured America 5 times before the song was composed for their 4th studio album.
LOVE THE B52S.... AND THIS PERFORMANCE IS REALLY EDGY,RAW AND BRILLIANTLY SHOWCASED ON THE FABULOUS YOU TUBE.. .PS YES ITS IN B&W OR MONOCHROME....AND IT ADDS TO THE MYSTIQUE OF ALL THE BAND.... THANKS GUYS
I wonder if those lucky few in the audience that night had any idea about what a precious experience they were embarking upon? LONG LIVE THE B-52'S!!!!!!
Blows me away to think that I was only 11 when this video-performance came out... I'm thinking they didn't really know how well this song would become years later; it has only gotten better over time -- such a long-lasting B-52's classic -- one of my all-time favs of the band.
I hated the B-52's until the first time I danced to "Rock Lobster" back in the '80s and I became a fan. You cannot truly appreciate this band until you've danced to them.
Words would not do justice to the feelings of gratitude i have to view/hear this recording.... all I can offer is my prayers of thanks.... Let's Rock!!!
I’m 50 as of 2018, and when b52’s came on the scene, (early 80’s) my dad was a high school teacher and musician as well. One of his high school student gave him a copy of this album and a Devo album. Needless to say that was a great time for me as an 8th grader listening to this on vinyl and being amazed!
super!!!! c'est ma jeunesse !!!!!!! Que du bonheur!!!! Je vous écoutes toujours avec plein de bonheur et de joie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C'est trop top de vous voir, d'écouter et de danser sur vos chansons !!!Je vous kiffe The B-52's Que devenez -vous????
John Lennon before he died said this was the greatest band he ever heard. I agree. I saw these guys around 1980]79 at Roseland ballroom in NYC and it was the greatest concert I ever saw in my life. I was literally 2 feet from the stage, and at the end all these wallets and keys and coins were on the floor from these people freaking out so much LOL They were jumping and rolling around so much all their pockets emptied out.
This band is FANTASTIC! Could you imagine being in that small club dancing to this ecstatic music -what lucky people. If there was any justice in the world this band would have been playing in arena's in 1979. So original. So fresh. So much fun!
At 5:22, That was inspired by her love of Yoko Ono, believe it or not... And John Lennon came back to record because he loved the sound of the B-52s and their acceptance of Ono...
Priceless. What a great song, great performance, and amazing snapshot of a band about to be as big as they deserve to be. For all their happy popness, there was also an interesting Gang-of-Four-ish feel to the rhythmic approach-- just listen to how they end the song. Thanks for putting this up!
i am not the type of guy who says, that in the past everything was better - but when i hear and see this video, there is a good reason to say so. ricky wilson r.i.p.
Yo tenía como nueve años cuando bailabamos ese tema magnifico e inolvidable en las fiestas de cuempleaños en mi HOGAR!!!! Nunca me olvidaré los grandes momentos bailando ese tema, grande los B-52´s !!!!LOs admiro...
The B-52's were absolutely amazing. It's like someone had a grab bag of themes and said, "Ok, you have to mix these genres and do it well....Punk, Surf rock, New Wave and you have to dress with beehive hair-dos. Get to it." And get to it they did.
