Kate Pierson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kate Pierson
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Pierson performing with the B-52s in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Catherine Elizabeth Pierson |
| Born | April 27, 1948 Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, new wave |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. She is a founding member of the famous band the B-52s. Kate Pierson plays many instruments, including guitar, bass, and various keyboards.
In the early days of the band, Kate was the main keyboard player. She also played a special "keyboard bass" during live shows and on many recordings. This made the B-52s sound different from other bands. Her unique, wide-ranging singing voice is also a big part of the B-52s' sound. Kate has worked with many other artists too, like the Ramones, Iggy Pop, and R.E.M..
In February 2015, Kate Pierson released her first solo album. It was called Guitars and Microphones. She wrote songs for this album with the singer Sia. Later, she released other songs, including a cover of "Venus".
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kate Pierson was born in Weehawken, New Jersey. She grew up in Rutherford.
She went to college at Wheaton College (Illinois) and then Boston University. There, she earned a degree in journalism. After college, she traveled around Europe in the 1970s. She even worked as a barmaid in England for six months. Later, she moved to Athens, Georgia. She lived on a farm and worked at a local newspaper.
Music Career with The B-52s
Kate Pierson met the other members of what would become the B-52s in Athens, Georgia. The band officially started in October 1976. They first played at a few local parties.
Soon, the band began traveling between Athens and New York City. They played many shows and became very popular.
Kate Pierson's Personal Life
Kate Pierson was married to Brian Cokayne. She met him while living in Europe.
From 1981 to 1996, she was in a relationship with artist Tim Rollins. In 2003, Kate started a relationship with artist and designer Monica Coleman. They got married on August 3, 2015.
Kate and Monica also created several unique vacation spots. These include Kate's Lazy Meadow motel in New York. They also owned Kate's Lazy Cabin, Kate's Lazy Desert, and Kate's Lazy Cape. They worked together to run these businesses. In 2022, Kate shared that they had sold Kate's Lazy Meadow. They then bought a vacation home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Music Collaborations
Kate Pierson has worked with many different artists and bands:
- The Ramones: In the early 1980s, she sang on their song "Chop Suey." She sang with Cindy Wilson and Debbie Harry.
- Melon: Kate, Cindy Wilson, and Keith Strickland were part of a group called Melon. They recorded two songs for a Japanese TV show.
- Fred Schneider: She sang on several songs for Fred Schneider's solo album in 1984. Fred Schneider is also a member of the B-52s.
- Iggy Pop: In 1990, she sang on his popular song "Candy."
- R.E.M.: She sang on the songs "Shiny Happy People" and "Me in Honey" from their 1991 album Out of Time.
- Matthew Sweet: She worked with him on his 1989 album Earth.
- McFadden & Whitehead: She and Cindy Wilson covered their song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" for a movie soundtrack.
- The Rugrats Movie: She sang on the song "The World Is Something New to Me" for the movie's soundtrack in 1998.
- "We Are Family": She sang in the chorus of this song. It was released to raise money for victims of the September 11 attacks.
- Jay Ungar and Molly Mason: She sang on their 2003 album Relax Your Mind.
- Junior Senior: She sang on the song "Take My Time" in 2005 with Cindy Wilson.
- Peter Jöback: She sang a duet with him on the song "Sing" in 2009.
- David Byrne and Fatboy Slim: She sang on the song "The Whole Man" from their 2010 album.
- NiNa: She was a member of this Japanese group. They released an album with hit songs like "Happy Tomorrow."
- Blondie: She appeared in the music video for their song "Mother."
- Phineas and Ferb: She sang "Let's Spend Half A Day" for the cartoon's soundtrack in 2013.
- Downes Braide Association: She sang on one song from their 2017 album.
- Pylon Reenactment Society: She sang and appeared in a music video for their song "Fix It" in 2024.
Solo Albums
- 2015: Guitars and Microphones
- 2024: Radios & Rainbows
Film and Television Appearances
Kate Pierson has appeared in or lent her voice to several films and TV shows:
- One Trick Pony (1980)
- Athens, GA: Inside/Out (1987)
- A Matter of Degrees (1990)
- The Flintstones (1994, as "The BC-52's")
- The Rugrats Movie (1998, voice only)
- The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1993, episode "What We Did on Our Summer Vacation")
- Rocko's Modern Life (Nickelodeon cartoon): She sang the theme song vocals.
- Guiding Light (1982): She appeared with the B-52s in an episode of this soap opera.
- The Simpsons (1999, episode "E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)"): The B-52s performed a parody of their song "Love Shack."
- Phineas and Ferb (2012, episode "Perry the Actorpus"): She performed the song "Spend Half a Day."
- Flight of the Conchords (episode "What Goes on Tour"): She played a club owner.
- Difficult People (episode "36 Candles"): She appeared as herself.
See also
In Spanish: Kate Pierson para niños
