Fred Schneider Net Worth

What is Fred Schneider's Net Worth?

Fred Schneider is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has a net worth of $6 million. Fred Schneider is best known as a founding member and the frontman of the new wave band the B-52s. With the group, he recorded such hit songs as "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," "Love Shack," and "Roam." Schneider has also released some albums as a solo artist, as well as albums with his comedy synth-pop group the Superions.

Early Life and Education

Fred Schneider III was born on July 1, 1951 in Newark, New Jersey. As an adolescent, he attended Shore Regional High School. Schneider went on to attend the University of Georgia. After he graduated, he worked as a janitor and a Meals on Wheels driver.

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The B-52s

In Athens, Georgia in 1976, Schneider formed the band the B-52s with Keith Strickland, Kate Pierson, and siblings Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson. They had success with their very first single, "Rock Lobster," which charted in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The song was included on the band's self-titled debut album released in 1979. With this album, the B-52s established their unique new wave sound, combining elements of earlier pop and rock music styles with knowing kitsch, in what music scholar Bernard Gendron termed a 'thrift-shop aesthetic.' One of the band's trademarks was Schneider's sprechgesang, or speak-singing. The B-52s continued to grow their following with their second album, "Wild Planet," which came out in 1980. Featuring the single "Private Idaho," the album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The band earned another Gold certification for their next album, 1983's "Whammy!," the final one released before the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985 from HIV/AIDS. However, Wilson did appear posthumously on the B-52s' 1986 album "Bouncing Off the Satellites."

The B-52s had their most commercially successful studio album with their fifth album, "Cosmic Thing," which was released in 1989. Supported by the hit singles "Love Shack" and "Roam," the album reached number four on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number one in Australia and New Zealand. It eventually went four-times Platinum in the United States. "Love Shack" and "Roam" both reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned the band Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The B-52s went on to release the album "Good Stuff" in 1992, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. Although the group released some compilation albums over the subsequent years, they didn't release another studio album of new material until 2008, with "Funplex," which debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200. Over the ensuing years, the B-52s continued touring. In 2022, they announced their final farewell tour, which concluded in Athens, Georgia in early 2023. The group went on to have residencies at the Venetian Las Vegas in 2023 and 2024.

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Solo Career

As a solo artist, Schneider released his debut album, "Fred Schneider and the Shake Society," in 1984. The album was reissued in 1991 under the title "Fred Schneider." The second solo album by Schneider, "Just Fred," came out in 1996.

The Superions

In 2006, Schneider formed the comedy synth-pop group the Del Morons with friends Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall. They eventually renamed their group the Superions, and released their debut single, "Totally Nude Island," on Halloween in 2008. In early 2010, the Superions released their self-titled debut EP. Later that year, they released their debut studio album, "Destination… Christmas!" The group went on to release the EP "Batbaby" in 2011. Three years later, the Superions released the single "Konnichiwa," which became the lead single from their second studio album, "The Vertical Mind."

Other Musical Collaborations

Schneider has collaborated with many other artists during his career, including such diverse acts as Richard Barone, Bongwater, RuPaul, Godchildren of Soul, and Elvira. He has also contributed vocals to songs by Joe McIntyre, the Foo Fighters, Deni Bonet, Jinkx Monsoon, and Mini Mansions. In addition to contributing vocals and instrumentals, he has co-written a number of songs with other artists, including RuPaul's "Stinky Dinky," Possum Dixon's "Firecracker," and Sophie Ellis-Bextor's "Supersonic." On television, Schneider and his B-52s bandmate Kate Pierson performed the theme song to the Nickelodeon animated series "Rocko's Modern Life." Schneider also sang the theme song that was used in the final season of the animated series "Captain Planet and the Planeteers."

Radio Show

Schneider previously hosted a radio show called "Party Out of Bounds," which aired on Friday nights on Sirius 33 First Wave. On the show, he played a mix of new wave songs and added humor and anecdotes along the way. "Party Out of Bounds" ended in late 2008.

Personal Life

Like most of the other members of the B-52s, Schneider is openly gay. He is also a lifelong vegetarian.

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