Flagpole reports on this weekend’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Melting Point. Read an excerpt below and visit flagpole.com for the entire article…
A “Thank You”
The R.E.M. 30 Celebration
Once upon a time in Athens, there was a party held in a nearly collapsed old church on Oconee Street.
April 5th marks the 30th Anniversary of R.E.M.’s legendary first performance as a band at the deconsecrated St. Mary’s Episcopal church building on Oconee Street in Athens. To celebrate this historic occasion thirty years later, Athens has a number of events planned for this weekend, including a film retrospective,
The March 2010 issue of Georgia Magazine has an in-depth article on the Athens music scene. Read an excerpt from the article, Talk About the Passion, below and click on the link to read the full article:
Here’s the short version: the Athens music scene began April 5, 1980, when
Ken Stringfellow sent a batch of photos from the Alex Chilton tribute show at Antone’s Saturday night during SXSW in Austin. All photos are by Michelle Auer.
Mike was one of a number of performers on hand to pay tribute to Alex Chilton at Antone’s in Austin on Saturday night. Chilton passed away late last week from a heart attack at age 59. The show also featured Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets, M.
We wish to honor the President and current administration and the members of congress who grasped the importance of this historic bill
–Michael Stipe
For more on the historic legislation, read:
James Fallows in the Atlantic Monthly
Paul Krugman in the NY Times
Tomorrow night, Mike is set to play alongside the surviving members of Big Star who will pay tribute to the late Alex Chilton at SXSW in Austin. Chilton was scheduled to play the show himself but passed away from a heart attack two days ago. He was 59.
The Saturday
The entire band and office send our respect to the life, amazing work, and memory of Mark Linkous, a brilliant songwriter and sweet man. We all honor his music and energy, and we collectively breath for him, a sigh and a common prayer; thank you Mark for what you
Alex Chilton’s music was a big part of my life and a huge influence on R.E.M. He will live on for us through all the great music he made.
-Mike Mills
Michael is one of over 200 artists who have created Marcel Duchamp-inspired “ready-made” works of art for New York City’s landmark Tools For Thought: Rebuild Haiti Art Auction. The event, which kicks off with an online auction on March 10th, is slated to raise money for
Tomorrow, Tuesday March 9, at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST, join Steve Wynn on ESPN.com for a live chat regarding the Baseball Project’s new BROADSIDE BALLADS series (see below). Here’s the link:
Tomorrow also marks the release of the first Broadside Ballad.
Be sure to tune into Sundance Channel today for Vincent Moon’s concert-documentary This Is Not A Show. The film will air twice today (12 Noon and 6:00 PM ET). There will be an encore performance Sunday March 7th at 6:35 PM ET. For more information please visit
To celebrate the upcoming screenings of THIS IS NOT A SHOW today and Sunday, Sundance Channel will be giving away copies of R.E.M. Live At The Olympia to 20 lucky viewers. Show times are 6:00 PM EST today and 6:35 PM EST Sunday, March 7th. For more information
The Sundance Channel will air Vincent Moon’s concert-documentary THIS IS NOT A SHOW three times in March with broadcast dates on Monday, March 1 at 12:15 PM (followed by another airing that same day at 6:00 PM) and a third on Sunday, March 7th at 6:35 PM. Please be
Laura Levine’s iconic photo of the band at Walter’s BBQ in 1984 is one of a handful of photos from the recent Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum featured in an article in this week’s Guardian.