R.E.M. announce disbandment

mini boss Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54

R.E.M., the underground band from Athens, Ga., that helped invent the alternative-rock sound of the 1980s, said on Wednesday that its members were splitting up after 31 years of making music together.

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“A wise man once said, ‘The skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave,’ ” Michael Stipe, the group’s lead singer and lyricist, said in a statement posted on the band’s Web site. “We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we’re going to walk away from it. I hope our fans realize it wasn’t an easy decision, but all things must end.”

Mike Mills, the bassist, said that he, Mr. Stipe and Peter Buck, the guitarist (the group’s original drummer, Bill Berry, retired in 1997) had reached the decision to break up while putting together a greatest-hits retrospective to be released in November. “Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey,” Mr. Mills said in a statement. “We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.”

The group formed in the college town of Athens, home of the University of Georgia, in 1980 and developed a cult following, becoming a darling of college radio stations with an artsy mix of punk-band energy, folk-rock instrumentation, airy hooks and mumbled, introspective lyrics. It was a potent sound that influenced a generation of alternative rock bands.

Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3282 Age : 43

They ran out of time.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37962 Age : 54

Meh. They had a few songs I liked over the years but I was never what you'd call a fan.

I always found Michael Stipe irritating as hell. He's got one of those faces that I would never get tired of punching.

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King Of Kaiju Number of posts : 30892 Age : 64

Fat Freddy wrote:: Meh. They had a few songs I liked over the years but I was never what you'd call a fan.

I always found Michael Stipe irritating as hell. He's got one of those faces that I would never get tired of punching.

Ditto. But I find his voice even more irritating than his face.

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"The cat is the most ruthless, most terrifying of animals." - Spock in the "Catspaw" episode of ToS Season 2.

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 40915 Age : 56

Not a fan at all. But 31 years together ? That's one hell of a ride.

King Of Kaiju Number of posts : 30892 Age : 64

007 wrote:: Not a fan at all. But 31 years together ? That's one hell of a ride.

Yeah, I will give them that; that's a heluva music career.

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"The cat is the most ruthless, most terrifying of animals." - Spock in the "Catspaw" episode of ToS Season 2.

Metal is Forever Number of posts : 7685 Age : 45

I didn't even think they were still around.

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R.E.M. announce disbandment Openurlife

The King Number of posts : 23281 Age : 51

Its the end of their world as they know it.

I like a couple songs here and there but never really got into them.

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R.E.M. announce disbandment The_ki10

Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:: I didn't even think they were still around.

I didn't either. I thought they were long retired and the world was a better place because of it. I remember reading an article once where Brian Johnson from AC/DC said that he went up to Michael Stipe to shake his hand and the guy just turned around and ignored him. What a prick. I guess he couldn't stand being in the presence of a real man. Brian laughed it off, and it gave me one more reason to hate their music.

mini boss Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54

GrandNational wrote:

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:: I didn't even think they were still around.

I didn't either. I thought they were long retired and the world was a better place because of it. I remember reading an article once where Brian Johnson from AC/DC said that he went up to Michael Stipe to shake his hand and the guy just turned around and ignored him. What a prick. I guess he couldn't stand being in the presence of a real man. Brian laughed it off, and it gave me one more reason to hate their music.

That is a true story, Brian Johnson was at an awards show and Michael Stipe turned his back to Johnson, Johnson just stood there and then walked off, and told a reporter, 'I never liked his music anyway." This was reported in Rolling Stone.

Despite his dickish behavior I am fan of R.E.M. and I think they made some very compelling music.

Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3830 Age : 44

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:: I didn't even think they were still around.

I didn't either. I thought they were long retired and the world was a better place because of it. I remember reading an article once where Brian Johnson from AC/DC said that he went up to Michael Stipe to shake his hand and the guy just turned around and ignored him. What a prick. I guess he couldn't stand being in the presence of a real man. Brian laughed it off, and it gave me one more reason to hate their music.

That is a true story, Brian Johnson was at an awards show and Michael Stipe turned his back to Johnson, Johnson just stood there and then walked off, and told a reporter, 'I never liked his music anyway." This was reported in Rolling Stone.

That's the one Manny, thanks for the exact details. If there is anyone who would know, it would be you. I couldn't quite remember the actual scenario of the story, but now I remember it as if I just read the RS article yesterday.

Ate his vegetables Number of posts : 4958 Age : 34

Oh screw you guys, REM was great. One of the most influential bands of the last 30 years.

And hey, I'd probably ignore Brian Johnson too.

Metal is Forever Number of posts : 6719 Age : 53

Quote :: I am fan of R.E.M. and I think they made some very compelling music.

I agree...

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Metal is my Life Number of posts : 12811 Age : 55

manny wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:: I didn't even think they were still around.

I didn't either. I thought they were long retired and the world was a better place because of it. I remember reading an article once where Brian Johnson from AC/DC said that he went up to Michael Stipe to shake his hand and the guy just turned around and ignored him. What a prick. I guess he couldn't stand being in the presence of a real man. Brian laughed it off, and it gave me one more reason to hate their music.

That is a true story, Brian Johnson was at an awards show and Michael Stipe turned his back to Johnson, Johnson just stood there and then walked off, and told a reporter, 'I never liked his music anyway." This was reported in Rolling Stone.

Despite his dickish behavior I am fan of R.E.M. and I think they made some very compelling music.

What a douche bag!!!!!

I have some REM in my collection and they are decent albums, but I feel like FF - Stipe annoys the sh!t out of me!!!!!! He is the reason I don't listen to them very often. I just want to smack him!!!!!! Shiny happy people my a$$!!!!!!

That said, I really like Out Of Time, Automatic For The People and Monster.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37962 Age : 54

thejokeriv wrote:: Stipe annoys the sh!t out of me!!!!!! He is the reason I don't listen to them very often. I just want to smack him!!!!!! Shiny happy people my a$$!!!!!!

"Y'know what I hate? When musicians think they're important enough that they can tell you who to vote for and sh*t. Like R.E.M.? Shiny Happy People? Okay, pull that bus over to the side of the pretentiousness turnpike! I want the Shiny people over here, I want the Happy people over there, I represent the angry, meat eating gun toting people!" -- Denis Leary

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Road Warrior Number of posts : 17180 Age : 48

I thought they were already long gone... When is the last time they put out an album? I liked a few of their songs... (from the 80's)

Metal is Forever Number of posts : 6719 Age : 53

Troublezone wrote:: I thought they were already long gone... When is last time they put out an album? I liked a few of their songs... (from the 80's)

Last March.... lol!

Bukkake Tsunami Number of posts : 25557 Age : 53

I kinda thought they were done already too. I was never a fan so I'm not gonna lose any sleep over this announcement, but 31 years is a good run. Farewell fellas.

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Metal is in my blood Number of posts : 3361 Age : 51

I kinda already thought REM was done once Bill Berry left. I'm more of a fan of their earlier stuff and tend to think their popular period, like Green era, hasn't aged well.

The King Number of posts : 23281 Age : 51

Fat Freddy wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:: Stipe annoys the sh!t out of me!!!!!! He is the reason I don't listen to them very often. I just want to smack him!!!!!! Shiny happy people my a$$!!!!!!

"Y'know what I hate? When musicians think they're important enough that they can tell you who to vote for and sh*t. Like R.E.M.? Shiny Happy People? Okay, pull that bus over to the side of the pretentiousness turnpike! I want the Shiny people over here, I want the Happy people over there, I represent the angry, meat eating gun toting people!" -- Denis Leary

absolutely agree. I have no idea what qualifications Springsteen, Madonna or Streisand have to tell me who to vote for...

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R.E.M. announce disbandment The_ki10

Master Of The Crotch Grab Number of posts : 6841 Age : 50

Fat Freddy wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:: Stipe annoys the sh!t out of me!!!!!! He is the reason I don't listen to them very often. I just want to smack him!!!!!! Shiny happy people my a$$!!!!!!

"Y'know what I hate? When musicians think they're important enough that they can tell you who to vote for and sh*t. Like R.E.M.? Shiny Happy People? Okay, pull that bus over to the side of the pretentiousness turnpike! I want the Shiny people over here, I want the Happy people over there, I represent the angry, meat eating gun toting people!" -- Denis Leary

Awesome. Well congrats to them on 31 years I guess, the last time I think I consciously heard an R.E.M. song is when they were on The Simpsons. The hits were never really my thing so I didn't get into them any deeper really.

Master Of The Crotch Grab Number of posts : 6841 Age : 50

exact33 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:: Stipe annoys the sh!t out of me!!!!!! He is the reason I don't listen to them very often. I just want to smack him!!!!!! Shiny happy people my a$$!!!!!!

"Y'know what I hate? When musicians think they're important enough that they can tell you who to vote for and sh*t. Like R.E.M.? Shiny Happy People? Okay, pull that bus over to the side of the pretentiousness turnpike! I want the Shiny people over here, I want the Happy people over there, I represent the angry, meat eating gun toting people!" -- Denis Leary

absolutely agree. I have no idea what qualifications Springsteen, Madonna or Streisand have to tell me who to vote for...

I don't think madonna has the qualifications to tell anyone how to do anything except...well, you get where I'm goin with this. Wink

Metal is Forever Number of posts : 7641 Age : 56

I hate this band and I thought they had disbanded 15 years ago. I agree that Stipe's face is very punchable. So long and you won't be missed.

King Of Kaiju Number of posts : 30892 Age : 64

On a side note, I wasn't sure "disbandment" was actually a word but I looked it up and it is.

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"The cat is the most ruthless, most terrifying of animals." - Spock in the "Catspaw" episode of ToS Season 2.

Baron Von 40oz. Number of posts : 4386 Age : 34

Schbopo wrote:: Oh screw you guys, REM was great. One of the most influential bands of the last 30 years.

And hey, I'd probably ignore Brian Johnson too.

So would I.