B52s founders Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson alongside Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts moments after their plaque on the Basie Center walk of fame was unveiled. (Photo courtesy of Count Basie Center for the Arts. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Schneider who grew up in Oceanport, and Pierson, who was born in Weehawken and raised in Rutherford, are founding members of the band widely known as “the world’s greatest party band.” They arrived at the ceremony in an SUV as big as a whale to hoots from an adoring crowd of fans who had gathered on the sidewalk outside the theater.
“I think the secret is that we bring people joy and people need joy right now,” Pierson said when asked about her band’s enduring appeal. “Everybody’s welcome to the party, they can find a kind of release but also a feeling of joy and collective love in the audience.”
Formed in Athens, Georgia when Pierson and Schneider were college students there, the B52s invented a sound that is instantly recognizable and entirely unique.
Over nearly five decades, The B-52s have earned three Grammy nominations, placed eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than 20 million albums. Their unmistakable blend of new wave, rock and pop produced enduring hits including “Rock Lobster,” “Love Shack” and “Roam,” and continues to influence artists across New Jersey and beyond.
For Schneider, the day was a particularly poignant homecoming.
Family members still live nearby, and the audience included childhood friends like Laurel Lee, who recalled making plans with Schneider in second grade to live out their lives in a log cabin in the woods.
“He’s always been his own person,” she said.
In an interview after the unveiling, Schneider recalled coming to the Count Basie Theater for the first time in 1965 – twelve years before the B52’s would release their first album.
“Coming to this fabulous theater when you have no money – as a kid, it was really like magic,” he said. In his remarks from the podium Schneider also recalled shopping at Jack’s Music Shoppe and the now-defunct Monarch Thrift Shop on Monmouth Street.
Launched in 2025 as part of the Basie Center’s Centennial Celebration, the Walk of Fame is described by the Basie Center as “a permanent tribute to artists who have performed on the historic stage, made an indelible impact on culture and whose contributions reflect the enduring power of the arts.”
“The Walk of Fame was created to preserve the history of this institution and to permanently honor the artists who have helped shape it, said Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Fred and Kate of the B-52s and Dramarama represent exactly what this Walk of Fame is about – extraordinary artists with deep New Jersey roots whose work has reached audiences around the world. We are thrilled that their names are forever part of this venue’s history, and we hope their stories inspire the next generation of artists to imagine what’s possible.”
Formed in Wayne, Dramarama emerged as one of New Jersey’s most distinctive and influential alternative rock bands. Across nine albums and nearly five decades, Dramarama has built an enduring following while remaining deeply connected to its New Jersey roots.
“Though we’ve known about this for a few weeks, we still can’t believe it! For Dramarama to be included among the wildly influential artists on the Walk of Fame is something we wouldn’t have thought possible,” said John Easdale, lead vocalist and founding member of Dramarama, in a press release. “The Count Basie Center is not just a glorious venue–it’s a force that celebrates and brings together the community in the state that we love. For us to now have a place in its history is truly an honor.”
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s show. For details visit the Parkstage website here.
