Jill Biden announced Tuesday that the dance rock group B-52s would not perform at Wednesday night’s state dinner for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The cancellation comes after Joe Biden faced criticism for taking a beach weekend vacation in Delaware while Americans are being held hostage in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The band will attend the dinner as guests instead.
Biden did not directly reference the Hamas attack on Israel or the Americans being held hostage.
“While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain. So we made a few adjustments to the entertainment portion of the evening. The band will attend the dinner as guests. And the President’s Own Marine Band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner.”
“While we had initially planned for legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain. So we’ve made a few adjustments to entertainment portion of the evening. Band will attend the party as guests”@FLOTUS pic.twitter.com/Kh5qe2uXDO
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 24, 2023
Biden also said, according to the AP, “Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times. Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution had the original scoop about the Athens, Georgia based group playing the state dinner on Monday, indicating the party was still planned to go ahead then even though Americans were held hostage by Hamas:
The B-52s will be performing Wednesday for President Joe Biden and the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a state dinner in Washington, @AJCRodneyHo reports. #gapol https://t.co/PBDThII7jJ
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 23, 2023
In addition to criticism from conservatives, Biden was also criticized for going to the beach last weekend by rapper 50 Cent:
Biden continues to set all-time records for most vacations taken as President.
Today he’s strolling on the beach while Americans are held hostage by a terrorist organization and millions of illegals (including terrorists) are invading our country. pic.twitter.com/nnMvgxJaTX
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 22, 2023
50 Cent reacts to Joe Biden spending the weekend at the beach: pic.twitter.com/eTMp7fH3NO
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 22, 2023
‘We got some real s*** going on out here Joe. What’s the plan to get a tan and chill, come on now!’ 50 Cent slams Joe Biden for taking ANOTHER beach vacation in Delaware while war rages between Israel and Hamas terroristshttps://t.co/Fdj0DBWETl pic.twitter.com/SZDkhvgbeA
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 24, 2023
The B-52s broke through in the 1970s with their new wave hit song “Rock Lobster:
1980 single Give Me Back My Man:
In 1989 the more mainstream Love Shack was a top-ten hit:
The B-52s have retired from touring but play one off shows and have an occasional residency in Las Vegas.
