Fred Schneider has been partying out of bounds as the male mouthpiece of the B-52s since the late ’70s. Through that band’s commercial success and longevity, Schneider’s goofy, new-wave jester shtick has evolved into an iconic voice that’s now an inspiration to younger artists. Schneider’s latest project, the Superions, showcases both his supreme silliness (“Who Threw That Ham At Me?” is one of his most riotous efforts) and influence (the Superions’ debut EP, Totally Nude Island, features remixes by four Athens, Ga., bands). Along with fellow Superions Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall, Schneider has delivered a handful of songs that combine sex, sci-fi, shoplifting and a dance called the Disco Garbage Can. Schneider will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Schneider: I just finished reading Charles C. Mann’s 1491. It’s the story of how incredibly civilized natives of the Americas were. This amazing book chronicles the achievements of the true Americans. Who knew the Declaration Of Independence and most of our laws were based on the laws of the natives of New York? Everything was great ’til smelly, dirty men from across the sea caused their demise very rapidly. Fascinating and heartbreaking.
