R.E.M. Breaks Up After Three Decades
 

R.E.M. the American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 have announced they will break-up after more than 30 years of music.

The band said they had decided to "call it a day" in a posting on the group's official website.

"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," the statement said.

"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."

rem are cool

Yep read that yesterday, great band...

About time ...

i'm positive Losing my religion will continue to be played in 100 years and later, it is a fine piece of contemporary art of the end of 20th century

Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up

(chorus)
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool, fool
Oh no, I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream

(repeat chorus)

But that was just a dream
Try, cry, why try?
That was just a dream
Just a dream, just a dream
Dream

I guess College is over.

:(

didn't make sense to break up.. they have been semi retired for years practically, why not just take a break instead? I read a little further last night and it would seem that they didn't want to commit to the amount of albums that the record label wanted them to..

One of my favourite all time bands for sure... First saw them in Buffalo for their Monster tour with Radiohead opening up for them, one of the best shows I have seen.

'Break up' will equal a big spike in album sales. Once it's tailed off they can reform and get another spike out of it too.

First will be the "This is it" Tour. Then the "really, this is our last one" Tour, Then the "what the hell, we'll do one more so our grandkids never have to work" Tour, Then after 4 years, the "comeback" Tour :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Wasn't a big fan of their last album, but I loved their early stuff. Everybody Hurts is one of my favorites.

I think they are done. I dont think there will be comebacks or reunion.I dont see them as that type of band. They are smart their last two recent albums had strong reviews, go out with some class.

Some of the best, congrats to them!

never knew they were still together.

Great Band, too bad they packed it in.

Great band which made great music! Break up or not, they will still get played and people will still listen to them for sure, at least i know i will. I like their early work and many tunes are on my playlists.

It's amazing how after the drummer Bill Berry left they never made good shit again. Amazing. R.I.P. R.E.M.

One of my faves !!! :thumbsup

I agree. They were never a band that toured a lot anyway. They could have made a lot more money than they did had they toured more, but they only went on the road when they really felt they had a good show to put on. Maybe they will reform in the future, who knows, but I have a feeling this is likely it for them.

I have been a lifelong fan and last night listened to Automatic for the People as a celebration and it is still as amazing, effecting and haunting today as it was the first time I heard it.

Thirty years goes past so fucking quickly...

I liked some of their tunes but I thought they were already broken up lol

They were still together?

Never dug 'em. Even went to a show once. Almost fell asleep and couldn't wait for it to be over.

Losing my religion is OK though.

pretty sure you don't have any idea about this band, you could like their music or not (I liked some songs, mainly old stuff, and disliked other), but there's something nobody with a clue could ever deny about R.E.M.: they always were consistent with their beliefs :2 cents:

as for the break up, I thought they were already disbanded, only that without any kind of official announcement. Maybe they just waited for 30th anniversary to tell their fans "OK, don't hold your breath anymore, it's over!"

true, after the drummer left they carried on. They put out their last album in March of this year.

aint that the fucking truth, time goes by so fast is scary.

Must be a slap in the face for them when most people say "I thought they split up years ago".

PS: I thought they split up years ago

You, I and anyone else on this board will never know until time passes. We are all just spit ballin'. :2 cents:

R.E.M. are my favorite band. When the news broke, I was at the Ynott awards in Prague and my FB and phone nearly blew up.

They are rather simply the soundtrack to my life. One of their songs played its part in saving my life as a teenager. This is a sad thing to have happen to me. I have a hard time thinking of there not being an R.E.M.

However, I appreciate that they went out on a really strong album because even those of us that love them will admit they hadn't had such a solid album in a LONG time. So, when they did do it, why not make sure the start and end of your journey together as a band is flanked by great songs.

rem was over rated

REM was underrated then overrated then gone. Seem like good guys though, genuine.

I actually created an R.E.M playlist last week may be that's the reason they are breaking up?

Listen to R.E.M - ÜBerlin

Why the fuck is this thread still on the front page...

Kill it you fuckers! :mad:

Thank god they broke up.

Great band in their day, remember seeing them once, they were Awesome

I'm kind of the same way. I have been a fan since I was a kid and many of their songs as soon as I hear them they take me back to a place and time in my life.

I feel like they haven't been the same since Bill Berry left. They have had moments of brilliance since and have had some really strong albums but I have always felt like they have been adrift since he left.

Still 30 years is a a hell of a run they have a lot to be proud off.

Back several years ago I had a South Park Moment with Michael Stipe. If you have ever watched South Park and saw the episode where MechaStrisand attacks and they get Robert Smith of The Cure to kill her, at the end as Smith is walking off one of the kids yells to him, "Disintegration is the best album ever."

So several years ago I go up to Seattle for Bumbershoot their annual music and art festival. REM are the headliners closing out the show. The day before I go to the art museum to see the Picasso exhibit they have. I walk into one of the rooms is Stipe and another guy (assuming it was his boyfriend, but maybe not) are there. We glanced at each other and had that odd moment where he realized I knew who he was. I didn't want to bother him so I checked out the room and as I left I turned around and said, "Michael, can't wait to see you tomorrow night." He nodded back and as I left I said, "And New Adventures in Hi Fi is he best album ever!"

they were great

I was about to put a funny picture about the old age and the Alzheimer, but R.E.M is one of my favorite bands (along with U2, Rolling Stones, Metallica - and probably several more old men bands) - ehh... 30 years is too much for a marriage - and we talk about a music band. Sometimes retirement is necessary - they might be drained their mojo...
It's like the fans who still want to see Sean Connery in movies.... and here's a
funny photo I wanted to post


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaGIJep604...a-question.jpg

Next thing you know the lead singer will come out as gay.

I thought he was gay?

I enjoyed them a lot when I was younger ... but it's not like a band can stay together forever.

They were never the same after he came out the closet.

I felt sad when I found out about their break up, one of my favorites bands. :(

well that needs an explanation... given that he has never discussed his sexuality and the fact they made and sold albums consistently over the last 30 years...



I loved their newer stuff even more than some of the older stuff.. Basically the shit they play on the radio isn't even close to their best music.

Sad. I fucking loved Life's Rich Pageant. Every song on there is a gem.

http://www.blackbookmag.com/ee/image...s2/rem_pic.jpg

R.E.M. is one of the things that makes life worth living. :2 cents: