Council to Vote on Resolution to Invite The B-52's to Perform in April Concert

Despite recent reverses in its effort to attract a big-name band to Harvard the Undergraduate Council plans to vote this Sunday on a resolution to bid for a B-52's concert this spring according to the council chair.

If the proposal receives a yes vote by the full council on Sunday, the social activities committee will bid for an April concert, Chair Guhan Subramanian '91-'92 said yesterday.

The possible B-52's concert follows on the heels of this month's failed effort to bring Squeeze to Harvard and last year's Suzanne Vega concert which lost an estimated $20,000.

The council originally rejected an offer by Squeeze to play for $25,000 but reconsidered when Squeeze dropped the price tag to $15,000. The council was paralyzed by problems with finding an indoor concert facility, and Squeeze subsequently with drew its offer, opting for two dates at the Orpheum.

Subramanian said he would like to hold the concert in a large indoor facility. Finding a location for the B-52's would not pose the same problem as it did for Squeeze, he said.

"The problem with Squeeze is that all the teams were playing inside. In the spring the hockey games and basketball season will be over and we will be able to hold it inside Briggs [Cage] or Bright [Hockey Center]."

Subramanian estimated the B-52's concert would cost $25,000--approximately $10,000 more than the second offer by Squeeze.

Chip Hooper of Monterey Peninsula Artists, an agent for the B-52's said that he had not been contacted by the council. "I haven't heard from anyone from [Harvard] who wants to book them, and if they want to book them they better call me," Hooper said.

Hooper said the group--whose hits include "Rock Lobster" and "Private Idaho"--occasionaly plays college dates while on tour. The B-52's are touring to promote their new album Cosmic Thang, which includes the current hit "Love Shack". Hooper said there is no set ending date for the tour.

Council moguls greeted the potential concert positively.

Eugene S. Kim '92, social activities chair, said that that a B-52's concert would not be a repeat of the Vega concert. "This isn't someone solo singing depressing songs about suicide," Kim said.

Better advertising as well as making tickets available to the surrounding colleges earlier will generate a larger crowd for the B-52's than for Vega. "They have a hit album out, and it won't be any problem selling out in the Boston area where they are very popular," Kim said.

Kim said even if the council lost a little money on the potential concert it would still be considered a success.