The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds Ep500: Fred Schneider of The B-52s - Record Collector
Jun 23, 2025
46:14
Fred Schneider of The B-52s discusses his massive 10,000+ record collection while sharing stories about the B-52's early days, the original "Rock Lobster" single, vinyl reissues and new boxset.
Topics Include:
- Massive record collection visible in wall-to-ceiling custom cabinets
- Estimates 10,000+ records, considers himself a "record nut"
- Collection includes avant-garde, classical, funk, soul, bad records
- Loves bad Christmas records and Halloween records specifically
- Been collecting since age 13, started in early days
- Currently has broken receiver, can't play main system
- Portable player works for 45s but stops unexpectedly
- Still adding records but doing major purge now
- Selling and donating records, too many to listen to
- Donates to Archive of Contemporary Music organization regularly
- Most precious records are original 45s from youth
- Still has first album mother bought thinking Beatles
- Moved into funk, Led Zeppelin, then New Wave music
- Was Sirius Satellite Radio DJ for three years
- Prefers first pressings, doesn't care about reissues much
- Looking for "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway
- Will clean up scuffed records if sound improves
- Vinyl never left his turntable despite CD popularity
- Listens to music most of day while doing activities
- Plays classical mornings while reading magazines and coffee
- Enjoys electronic music from 50s/60s and harp music
- B-52s sound came from all members' varied influences
- Band was lumped with punk but more "freak punk"
- Original "Rock Lobster" single recorded in Georgia mountains
- DB Records pressed 2,000 copies, sold out quickly
- Eventually pressed 30,000 total copies of original single
- Australia embraced band early, rolled out red carpet
- Band never saw penny from original single sales
- Talking Heads recommended B-52s to their manager successfully
Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8