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The following report was written by me for my first R.E.M. page. The information was taken from a variety of sources, too vast to list here.
It all began in Athens, GA in 1979 when Peter Buck, met Michael Stipe. Peter was working in a record store and Michael was a regular customer, one that had a habit of buying the records Peter put aside for himself. Having similar tastes, they became friends. Peter played guitar, Michael played in small groups with names like "Tanzplagen" and "1066". The two decided to form a band. At a party in the spring of 1980, they met Mike Mills and Bill Berry, who had played together in bands around the University of Georgia. The four that the world would meet as R.E.M. were together.
With Mike on bass and Bill (far right) on drums, the four played a show for a friend's birthday party in an abandoned church in which Peter actually lived, according to some, under the name "Twisted Kites", others said the band at that time was nameless. They decided to change their name, considering about a half-dozen stray words out of a dictionary, with names like "Cans Of Piss" and "Negro Eyes" lingering in the back of their minds. They settled on R.E.M. (short for Rapid Eye Movement.) Shortly thereafter, they met the owner of a record store named Jefferson Holt, who became their manager, with Holt they released a single, the now ultra-collectible Hib-Tone labled "Radio Free Europe" b/w "Sitting Still." Following which they were signed to I.R.S. records.
Their I.R.S. debut EP, Chronic Town was a success. The LP that followed, Murmur was a breakthrough, it went over in a big way. They released 6 more incredible LP's with I.R.S. (Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction [of the Fables], Life's Rich Pageant, Dead Letter Office, Document and Eponymous.) They got a deal with Warner Bros. after their contract with I.R.S. ran out. The subsequent release, Green was simply a continuation of their success with I.R.S. The 1989 Green Tour, brought out many fans, and the last show from it became the video TourFilm.
Their creativity seeingly peaked with 1991's Out Of Time album, with its amazing hit single "Losing My Religion." Out Of Time was followed by Automatic For The People with 2 great singles "Everybody Hurts" and "Man On The Moon." R.E.M. released it's third blockbuster album with 1994's Monster, a much harder-edged, album than it's predecessors. Inspired by Grunge and Glam-Rock sounds, in dedication to lost friends River Phoenix and Kurt Cobain. Its singles "What's the Frequency, Kenneth", "Bang And Blame" and "Strange Currencies" all did well, and R.E.M. went on tour around the world, during which 3 of the four members found themselves in the hospital at different times, one of which was because Bill Berry suffered a near-fatal double brain aneurysm.
After the tortured Monster tour, R.E.M. re-signed with Warner Bros. For a staggering $80 million deal. The band went into the studio and when they came out, they had an album called New Adventures In Hi-Fi it was a unique album, combining the sounds from Monster and prior releases with a semi-live atmosphere (most of the tracks were recorded on stage during the Monster Tour and during soundchecks.) They followed the album with some much needed time off. When the time came to release another album, only 3 of the four came to the studio, Bill Berry didn't show up until after the first couple days of recording had passed and when he finally showed, he announced to his bandmates that he wanted to leave the band and retire from music.
Without Berry, the three members of R.E.M. continued to record and with the aid of their friends such as Joey Waronker of Beck, put together Up an album like nothing they ever done before, using vast numbers of analog synthesizers from the 70's and aincient drum machines, without Bill Berry, but not without the feeling and the R.E.M. sound that is unmistakable. The band did a number of promotional appearances to promote the new album, but decided not to tour. But, as time went on, after their promotional appearances, ranging from The Late Show With David Letterman to Sesame Street. The three decided to do a 3 month long word tour. With Up in stores, and Mike, Michael and Peter on stage, R.E.M. continues to show that now, more than ever, they are a band like none other.
