r.e.m.

R.E.M. is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band from Athens, Georgia.  Formed in the early 1980s, Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass), and Bill Berry (drums), R.E.M. became one of the most successful bands on what was then called the "college rock" circuit.  They released an EP, Chronic Town in 1982.  Their first full-length LP, Murmur, followed in 1983.  For the next five years, the band released an album per year (Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, Document, Green).  Their fifth album, Document, in 1987 featured the crossover hit "The One I Love."

In 1988, R.E.M. left their early indie label for the greener pastures of I.R.S. for Warner Brothers and released the minor hit Green.  In 1991, the band released Out of Time, an album that featured the massive hit single "Losing My Religion."  Their follow-up, Automatic for the People, is perhaps the most acclaimed album of their career.  When touring for their 1994 release Monster , drummer Bill Berry suffered a brain aneurysm.  He recovered and finished the tour.  His drum work is featured on the band's next album New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but announced his retirement afterward.  In 1998, R.E.M. released Up, their first album without Bill Berry.  Former Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin was one of a number of guests who provided percussion and drum work in the studio.  Former Ministry drummer Bill Rieflin has more permanently replaced Berry as the band's studio and touring drummer. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. 

In 2008, R.E.M. released Accelerate and launched a world tour in support.  They also released a 25th Anniversary special edition of Murmur.

by Josh Hathaway Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “r.e.m.”

 

• Orange Crush (With Eyeliner)

  
  Manic Pop Thrills — Authority: 106
  There was a mini REM night on the BBC the other night. Quite why the 2 programmes (R.E.M. At The BBC and REM on Later) were tucked away after midnight is something of a mystery when you consider the lesser talents who have had full blown themed nights. But as ever with these things they were recorded to be watched at ...
  2 weeks ago

• Crushed Stars - "Brighter Now"

  
  Earbuddy — Authority: 430
  Its easy to understand why theres a lot of buzz around Todd Gautreau and his project Crushed Stars. The guys voice instantly registers thoughts of R.E.M. On March 6th, Simulacra Records will release In The Bright Rain the latest from Crushed Stars. While Gautreau performed most of the instrumentation himself, he ...
  2 weeks ago

• Lossless Bootleg Bonanza: R.E.M. - Murmur: Rough Mixes and Demos

  
  The Midnight Cafe — Authority: 118
  Download FLAC: Part I , Part II , Part III Download MP3@320kps: Mediafire R.E.M. Murmur: Rough Mixes and Demos 1982/83-xx-xx Lineage: ANA(x)>DAT(x)>WAV [48kHz/16bit]>WAV [44.1kHz/16bit]>Flac Transfer: Tascam DA-20 MKII>PreSonus FireStudio Project>Adobe Audition 3.0 Transferred By: Mike ...
  2 weeks ago

• From the Vault – Jason & the Scorchers

  
  Extreme Listening Mode! — Authority: 100
  If Mick Jones had been born on a hog farm in Illinois, then he might have been Jason Ringenberg. The frontman of Jason & The Scorchers was as punk as the Pistols and as country as Cash. The band tore through the 80s with such contemporaries as the Long Ryders and R.E.M., setting the bar [...]
  2 weeks ago

• Yet More Best-of-2011 Awards from Rock Turtleneck

  
  Rock Turtleneck — Authority: 97
  Following up on our previous awards post , Rock Turtleneck has a couple more awards to hand out in recognition of the excellent and otherwise in 2011. Best reissue: The Rolling Stones, Some Girls It felt like just about every record Ive ever loved was reissued this year in ...
  3 weeks ago

• A Marriage Between Music and Movies: Cameron Crowe’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (Part I: 50-26)

  
  The Screen Door..with Anthony Kuzminski — Authority: 95
  A Marriage Between Music and Movies: Cameron Crowe’s ‘Greatest Hits’ Part I (50-26) By Anthony Kuzminski [Published in conjunction with the antiMUSIC Network ] I had not even reached my teen years when my Mom took me to see Cameron Crowe’s debut film as a director, Say Anything… . I sat there ...
  3 weeks ago

• Borrowing from REM’s Songbook When Publishers, Authors and Agents Can’t Agree on a Book Title

  
  The Nervous Breakdown — Authority: 469
  For publishers, authors, and agents, coming up with the perfect book title causes great consternation. In some cases, hundreds of titles are suggested, batted about, and batted down months before a book’s official publication date. The highly volatile selection process often results in finger-pointing, idle threats, ...
  4 weeks ago

• Famous and Celebrity Birthdays for January 4 2012

  
  Blippitt.com — Authority: 624
  Here are your famous & celebrity birthdays for today: Never miss a celebrity birthday again with the Celebrity Birthday Directory 1966 Deana Carter (country singer) 1965 Julia Ormond (English actress) 1963 Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall) 1962 Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) 1958 Matt Frewer (Max Headroom) ...
  4 weeks ago

Comments about r.e.m.