From our old friend and IRS Records stalwart Michael Plen, the guy who took one of the all-time great live photographs of R.E.M. performing — a shot that still resonates all these years later.
As Michael Plen describes it that rainy evening at the cavernous Shea Stadium in New York where R.E.M opened for the huge band The Police: “I was fortunate to be the photographer on stage as I’d been working for the Police & IRS Records since 1977. One of the most magical moments and concerts ever from a band (R.E.M.) that today is still hands down my #1 love.”
And we should add that in those early years of R.E.M. breaking as a band, the team of people at IRS Records, most definitely including “Plen,” really helped make it happen and we have always been most grateful. Here’s how to have one of the last few copies of the photograph, signed by Berry Buck Mills and Stipe a few years ago.
https://michaelplenphotography.bigcartel.com/product/rem-at-shea-stadium