Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer, lyricist, and founding member of the B-52s. She plays guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments. In the early years, as well as being a vocalist, Pierson was the main keyboard player and performed on a keyboard bass during live shows and on many of the band's recordings, taking on a role usually filled by a bass guitar player, which differentiated the band from their contemporaries. This, along with Pierson's distinctive wide-ranging singing voice, remains a trademark of the B-52s' unique sound. Pierson has also collaborated with many other artists including the Ramones, Iggy Pop and R.E.M. Pierson possesses a mezzo-soprano vocal range. In February 2015, Pierson released her first solo album, Guitars and Microphones, featuring material co-written by Sia. She later released the non-album single "Better Not Sting the Bee", and then she released an April 16, 2016 cover of "Venus" as a single. Side B included "Radio In Bed" written by Kate and her wife Monica Coleman. Both tracks were produced by Jack White.

Early life and education

Pierson was born in Weehawken, New Jersey, and raised in Rutherford. Pierson briefly attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois before transferring to Boston University, where she earned a journalism degree. She then traveled around Europe for a time in the 1970s, including six months working as a barmaid in The Anson pub in Wallsend, UK, before returning to the U.S. and moving to Athens, Georgia, where she lived on a farm and earned a living as a paste-up artist in the type shop of the local newspaper.

Music career

Pierson met up with the other members of what would become the B-52s while living in Athens, Georgia. The band formed in October 1976 and played a few parties before heading to New York to play some shows. Eventually, Pierson and the other band members began commuting between Athens and New York, playing gigs.

Personal life

Pierson was married to Brian Cokayne, a Mancunian, whom she met while living in Europe between 1971 and 1973. From 1981 to 1996, Pierson was in a relationship with artist Tim Rollins. In 2003, Pierson started a relationship with artist and designer Monica Coleman. They got married on August 3, 2015. Pierson and Coleman developed Kate's Lazy Meadow motel complex in Mount Tremper, New York in 2003. They have also owned Kate's Lazy Cabin in nearby Lake Hill, New York, both in the Catskill Mountains, Kate's Lazy Desert in Landers, California, and Kate's Lazy Cape located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They have operated the businesses together. In 2022, Pierson indicated that the couple had sold Kate's Lazy Meadow, then purchased the vacation home on Cape Cod in Truro, Massachusetts. In a 2015 interview, Pierson stated that she identifies as bisexual.

Collaborations

Albums

Film and television