Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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: Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Listen on Apple: apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/36qhlc8
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: Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Listen on Apple: apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/36qhlc8
