Deadbeat Club
Encyclopedia
"Deadbeat Club" was the fifth and last single released from The B-52's
' album Cosmic Thing
. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1990. Based on chart performance, "Deadbeat Club" falls behind only the singles, "Love Shack
", "Roam" and "Good Stuff
" as their biggest hit. The song is about the band's early days in Athens
when they would hang around in cafes drinking coffee. Because they didn't work or do anything, their parents nicknamed them "Deadbeats." Allen's
, mentioned in the nostalgic song, is a real-life place in Athens, Georgia
. Normaltown
is a neighborhood of Athens. The music video featured R.E.M.
frontman Michael Stipe
.
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
' album Cosmic Thing
Cosmic Thing
Cosmic Thing is the fifth studio album by New Wave band The B-52's, released in 1989. It contains the singles "Love Shack" and "Roam", which remain two of their most popular tunes...
. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1990. Based on chart performance, "Deadbeat Club" falls behind only the singles, "Love Shack
Love Shack
"Love Shack" is a single by rock band The B-52's. Originally released in 1989 from their album Cosmic Thing, the single was the band's biggest hit song and first million-copy seller...
", "Roam" and "Good Stuff
Good Stuff (The B-52's song)
"Good Stuff" is a song by The B-52's and title track from their 1992 album. The song placed at #28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also placed #21 in the UK. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1993 for best alternative rock...
" as their biggest hit. The song is about the band's early days in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
when they would hang around in cafes drinking coffee. Because they didn't work or do anything, their parents nicknamed them "Deadbeats." Allen's
Allen's
Allen's is a hamburger joint and nightclub originally in the Normaltown neighborhood of Athens, Georgia, now located at the corner of Hawthorne and Oglethorpe Avenues.-History:...
, mentioned in the nostalgic song, is a real-life place in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. Normaltown
Normaltown
Normaltown is a neighborhood in Athens, Georgia, by the Athens Regional Medical Center. It was the first area of Athens to be wired for electricity after the completion of the Mitchell's Bridge hydroelectric plant in 1896. In the 1980s, Allen's in Normaltown was an early venue for bands such as R.E.M...
is a neighborhood of Athens. The music video featured R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
frontman Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
.