"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.
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| REM on the floor, crowd on the stage. At the Pier, Raleigh NC, 1980 - Photo by: Chris Seward |
Early 1990s, Nirvana and Pavement viewed R.E.M. as a pioneer of the alternative rock genre with the release of their two most commercially successful albums, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992).
1994 sees R.E.M. return to thier rock roots from the 1980's with the release of Monster. The band began its first tour in six years to support the album; the tour was marred by medical emergencies suffered by three band members. Including Berry collapsing on stage during from a brain aneurysm. He recovered and rejoined the band, but left in October 1997, saying that he no longer had the drive or enjoyment level to be in the band, and that he wanted a career change.
After Bill Berry left the band, while Buck, Mills, and Stipe continued the group as a trio. Their musical style changed but hey continuid to release Gold & Platinum Albums up untill the release of Collapse into Now. No tour was anounced to support the album and 6 months later R.E.M. announced their split on its website.
But all is not lost R.E.M. will release a career-spanning Greatest Hits album through Warner Brothers in November.
In their own words: The guys share their thoughts on why now.
MIKE - "During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.
"We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right."
MICHAEL - "A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.
"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way.
"We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."
PETER - "One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.
"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world."
Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz
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