Biography
The Superions deliver high-energy electronic dance pop distinguished by its melodic hooks and frequent bursts of humor, with Fred Schneider—the longtime lead singer of the B-52s—teaming up alongside musicians Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall. Characterizing their sound as “a nonstop disco new wave party explosion for all generations,” the trio merges the B-52s’ whimsical surrealism in the lyrics with grooves grounded in vintage dance forms, heavy on classic synth textures and a light layer of camp. What began as an informal studio experiment, with Schneider improvising vocals over rhythms that Brodie and Marshall had assembled during downtime, evolved into public releases once friends encouraged wider circulation; cuts such as “Totally Nude Island,” “Who Threw That Ham at Me,” and “Fruitcake” sparked both laughter and dance-floor response, while the 2017 album The Vertical Mind confirmed their ability to sustain that energy across full-length statements as well as individual tracks.
Fred Schneider first connected with Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall via a shared acquaintance who operated a record shop in Orlando, Florida. All three maintained deep collections of unusual vinyl, especially exotica and lounge material, quickly forming a close bond that included Schneider lodging with Brodie and Marshall during Florida visits. In 2006 the pair played Schneider a home-studio track and requested lyrics; responding to its tropical atmosphere, he supplied the words for “Totally Nude Island” and recorded the vocals in two takes inside their bathroom. Positive reactions from friends prompted a digital single under the initial name the Del Morons, which they soon replaced with the Superions, drawn from a low-budget sci-fi movie Schneider recalled from childhood. “Totally Nude Island” appeared in October 2008, quickly followed by remixes from Ursula 1000, the Lolligags, and Marshmallow Coast. In 2010 Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records, an independent Athens, Georgia label, released the vinyl EP The Superions, which paired the original track and its remixes with two new songs, “Sexy Saucer Gals” and “Who Threw That Ham at Me.”
The group next turned toward a full album, yet after finishing two tracks they pivoted to a set of holiday numbers. Their debut long-player, Destination…Christmas!, arrived in October 2010, brightening the season for listeners, while a Halloween single, “Batbaby,” followed in 2011. Another new track, “Konnichiwa,” surfaced in 2014, after which Schneider’s B-52s schedule placed the Superions on hold for several years. Activity resumed in 2017 with the even more unrestrained second album Vertical Mind. The Superions retained their fondness for seasonal material, issuing the Halloween song “Real Scary Halloween Story” in 2019 first as a digital release and later as a limited-edition vinyl single backed by “Batbaby.”
Fred Schneider first connected with Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall via a shared acquaintance who operated a record shop in Orlando, Florida. All three maintained deep collections of unusual vinyl, especially exotica and lounge material, quickly forming a close bond that included Schneider lodging with Brodie and Marshall during Florida visits. In 2006 the pair played Schneider a home-studio track and requested lyrics; responding to its tropical atmosphere, he supplied the words for “Totally Nude Island” and recorded the vocals in two takes inside their bathroom. Positive reactions from friends prompted a digital single under the initial name the Del Morons, which they soon replaced with the Superions, drawn from a low-budget sci-fi movie Schneider recalled from childhood. “Totally Nude Island” appeared in October 2008, quickly followed by remixes from Ursula 1000, the Lolligags, and Marshmallow Coast. In 2010 Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records, an independent Athens, Georgia label, released the vinyl EP The Superions, which paired the original track and its remixes with two new songs, “Sexy Saucer Gals” and “Who Threw That Ham at Me.”
The group next turned toward a full album, yet after finishing two tracks they pivoted to a set of holiday numbers. Their debut long-player, Destination…Christmas!, arrived in October 2010, brightening the season for listeners, while a Halloween single, “Batbaby,” followed in 2011. Another new track, “Konnichiwa,” surfaced in 2014, after which Schneider’s B-52s schedule placed the Superions on hold for several years. Activity resumed in 2017 with the even more unrestrained second album Vertical Mind. The Superions retained their fondness for seasonal material, issuing the Halloween song “Real Scary Halloween Story” in 2019 first as a digital release and later as a limited-edition vinyl single backed by “Batbaby.”
Albums
