The B-52’s were booked to play a concert at the White House on Wednesday night as President Joe Biden hosts Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—reportedly a big ’80s music fan—at a state dinner, according to the AJC.
But the White House replaced the Athens group with military bands “at a time when so many are facing pain and sorrow,” according to a statement from First Lady Jill Biden, which many interpreted as referring to the current conflict in Israel.
Known for hits like “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack,” the B-52’s formed in Athens in 1976. They ended their final tour in their hometown last January, but the remaining founding members Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider and Cindy Wilson continue to play one-off events. The band also has a residency at a Las Vegas casino coming up.
A biography of the group, The Story of the B-52’s: Neon Side of Town, by Adair Herron and Scott Creney, was published earlier this year.
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