R.E.M.
R.E.M. got together in the spring of ’80. Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass), Bill Berry (drums) and Michael Stipe (vocals) were students at the University of Georgia but weren’t that interested in their education.
The band’s first gig was in a rundown church that had been converted into apartments. Shortly thereafter, they were playing clubs, halls and parties.
In ’87, “Document” came out with “The One I Love” and “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” R.E. M were on top of the Rock indie world.
R.E.M. then left I.R.S. and signed with Warner Records, for a tidy sum. That led to the “Green” album containing the quirky “Stand,” “Pop Song ’89” and the much harder and denser “Orange Crush.”
Stand
Orange Crush
But road life proved extreme with every member suffering a major health problem. So the band suspended further touring until ’95.
Back in the studio R.E.M. produced “Out Of Time” containing “Losing My Religion” and “Shiny Happy People” and “Automatic For The People” with the touching “Man On The Moon,” referencing late comedian Andy Kaufman.
Shiny Happy People
Man On The Moon
Having trouble writing the lyrics Stipe told the band the song should be an instrumental.
A month after “Out Of Time” was released Buck was arrested in connection with an air rage incident during a flight from Seattle to London. He was accused of drinking 15 glasses of wine, turning over a service cart and engaging in bas behavior. He was later cleared of the charges.
Then there was what seemed to be a compliment from out of nowhere…
“I know we’re gonna put out one more record, at least, and I have a pretty good idea what it’s going to sound like: pretty ethereal, acoustic, like R.E.M.’s last album (“Automatic For The People”) write just a couple of songs as good as what they’ve written,” said Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. “God, they’re the greatest. They’ve dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music.”
“Monster” followed in ’94 and featured “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth” which was what attackers yelled as he pummeled television newscaster Dan Rather.
Also on the album were “Bang And Blame” and “Crush With Eyeliner.”
“Monster” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth
In ’97 Bill Berry left the band for health reasons so R.E.M. continued as a trio.
“Accelerate” landed in April, ’08. Recorded in Vancouver, B.C. and Dublin, the group played a series of live concerts in Ireland’s capital to warm up for the studio sessions. “Returning to Dublin for our live rehearsal… provides the great start we need for our next album’s work,” said Stipe. That did the trick. “Accelerate” sold 115,000 copies in its first week to land at #2 on the Billboard 200.
Radio Free Europe
After R.E.M was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Library of Congress selected the band’s debut single “Radio Free Europe,” for their National Recording Registry, saying it was “one of the cornerstones of ’80s College Rock.”
The story doesn’t stop here. R.E.M.’s founding members gave their first public performance in 17 years to mark their ’24 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The quartet delivered an acoustic version of “Losing My Religion” at the Marriott Marquee Hotel, New York, NY.
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