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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 09 > Entry
B-52 wants dancing on Bazzaar tables
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maybe it was all those pink feather boas on display at Dave FM’s hysterical “Diva for a Day” competition upstairs at Shout in Midtown on Wednesday night that attracted an unexpected pop music icon to the proceedings — B-52’s frontman Fred Schneider, who was in town party-hopping.
Since Schneider and friends took us up on an impromptu dinner invitation downstairs, Buzz was able to pry a few details out of the vocalist about his second stint as guest DJ tonight at Bazzaar in Midtown.
“I’m just going to be winging it and flinging it,” Schneider said. “I’m scrounging around for some wild and weird uptempo stuff, but I’ll also cater to the people who want background music. It’ll just be very strange background music!”
Schneider also had big news about the new locally recorded B’s album. The vocalist says the new disc, “Funplex” — the act’s first in 16 years — has been snapped up by Astralwerks for a Feb. 26 release.
“For us, it was fortuitous that we signed the deal on Halloween,” he cracked. The Athens-birthed act previewed six songs from the project last summer during a concert at Chastain.
Tonight, Schneider promises to unveil two of the new tunes for Bazzaar patrons if certain conditions are met: “I want people dancing on those tables!”
Alas, the New York resident wasn’t at home this week when fellow legendary Athens act Pylon hit the stage for a reunion gig in NYC. Oh, and Schneider says fans of “Party Out of Bounds,” his Friday night Sirius First Wave satellite radio show, should still come out to see him live in Atlanta.
“They can bring their headphones and their portable radios and get a double dose of me,” he suggested, laughing.
And while Schneider made note of Shout’s B52 sushi roll on the menu, the vegetarian instead opted to nibble on California rolls filled with cucumber and extra avocado.
Schneider’s set begins tonight at 10.
Celebrity docket
Sure, the Godfather of Soul’s been gone practically a year now, but the legal maneuvering for a piece of the singer’s estate continues. A Georgia woman who claims to have married James Brown in 1953 now says via court papers they never divorced and she wants to be part of his estate.
Velma Warren Brown, 73, filed a sworn statement in an Aiken County, S.C., court Wednesday contending the entertainer never served her with any divorce papers and she didn’t sign any agreement that would have severed their union.
However, at least two attorneys involved in disputes over the singer’s estate and trust discounted her claim, and said she had remarried.
“If Ms. Brown believed that she was not divorced, she’s admitting to having herself committed bigamy,” said Louis Levenson, an attorney representing several of the singer’s children.
The Augusta Chronicle also reported Thursday on its Web site that it had obtained court documents showing a judge granted the divorce in 1969.
A message left for the woman’s attorney, David Bell, was not immediately returned Thursday afternoon to talk about the documents.
However, Bell previously said his client married the singer, had three children and lived together for 17 years.
“There was never a formal separation or a divorce,” Bell said. “They kind of went their separate ways, but he always kept in touch with her.” The attorney said the two last saw each other in December at Brown’s home in South Carolina, just weeks before he died at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta on Christmas Day.
Hawks help kids
If the kids cheering under the banners inscribed with J. Smoove’s Stars, J. Chill’s Fro Zone, Marvin’s MVPs, Lue’s Lounge, The Landlord’s Tenants and Al’s Amigos seem happy during the Hawks-Wizards game Sunday at Philips Arena, there’s a reason.
Thanks to Atlanta Hawks players Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams and Al Horford, the small fry are there for free. The special sections have been named for the players participating in the Hawks’ Tickets for Kids Program, in which each player has purchased a block of seats to every 2007-08 home game.
We’re told that the goodwill gestures are being donated through the Hawks’ Community Development Department to youth groups and nonprofit organizations throughout metro Atlanta. According to the numbers crunchers in the Hawks’ front office, that translates into more than 6,000 seats for potential young fans.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Singer Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary is 71. Actor Robert David Hall (“CSI”) is 59. Actor Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”) is 55. Rapper Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa is 38. Actor Eric Dane (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 35. Singer Nick Lachey is 34. Actress Nikki Blonsky (“Hairspray”) is 19.
SAVE THE DATE
The famously arm-flapping R&B veteran Patti LaBelle (right) will headline Hands on Atlanta’s first Community Benefit Concert — with the far less animated John Legend — Nov. 25 at Philips Arena. Tickets go on sale today at Ticketmaster (404-249-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com), ranging from $50 to $500. Proceeds from the concert, the finale to Hands On Atlanta’s annual giving campaign, will go toward the volunteer service organization’s ongoing programming.
For more information, call 404-979-2800 or go to HandsOnAtlanta.org.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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