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BENEFIT FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI


R.E.M, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Travis, Paul McCartney, Sting, Peter Gabriel, U2 and others have contributed tracks to a benefit album for the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest in Burma. FOR THE LADY will be released on October

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MILLS ON COVER OF ROLLING STONE


The newest issue of Rolling Stone, set to hit news stands in hours, features Mike Mills and a host of other artists who will be playing on the Vote For Change Tour. Michael was on the cover of the previous issue, a special devoted to the 50 Greatest

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Postcard from Milan


A brief update from Milan–too many emails to get to for any more than this.

After a packed week of radio/TV/live/print madness in London (all fun, all productive) we came down to Milan Friday night for a few days of the same here. Italy is always a highlight and

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AROUND THE SUN LISTENING PARTY IN ATHENS


A preview listening party to celebrate the release of R.E.M.’s new album, Around the Sun, will take place on Monday, October 4 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Little Kings Club on the corner of Hull Street and West Hancock Street in downtown Athens.

Guests will be able to hear the

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POSTCARD FROM LONDON


Well, after last night, I’m glad to report that it indeed feels like a
tour. The band played a spirited hour plus set last night for a gracious,
enthusiastic audience of fan club members and radio competition winners.
Highlights were many:

* The public premiere of several songs off the new record,
including

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R.E.M. PLAY OXFAM SURPRIZE/ST JAMES UPDATE!


Our intrepid man in London, Bertis E Downs, IV, checked in from London, UK, with the following report from last nite’s big benefit show:

The band played a “surprize” but heavily rumoured show whilst in London. The charity Oxfam was doing a Make Trade Fair live event at

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MICHAEL ON ROLLING STONE COVER


Michael has made the cover of the latest Rolling Stone in a special issue called “The Photographs–The Fifty Greatest Portraits & the Stories Behind Them.”

From Rolling Stone:

“There was no stylist, no makeup artist,” says British photographer Platon, who shot Stipe on September 5, 2001. “He came to

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iTUNES SAMPLER?


Details are on their way for a special offer. REMHQ will let you know how to tune in to the iTunes Store for a free sneak preview of the new record AROUND THE SUN. The sampler will contain 30 second snippets of selected songs. For more info about iTunes, visit

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POSTCARD UPON LEAVING NEW YORK


This will be a quick one: video shoot is going great, being directed by our good friend Peter Care, responsible for some great ones in past years (“Man on the Moon,” “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?,” and “Drive”). Of course I won’t give the plot away, but I sense that

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ONSALE DATE ANNOUNCED FOR VOTE FOR CHANGE TOUR


Tickets for all shows on the upcoming Vote For Change Tour including R.E.M.’s dates with Bruce Springsteen will go on sale this Saturday, August 21st. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit moveonpac.orgwhere you can sign up to be eligible for presale tickets. MoveOnpac.org also

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STRINGFELLOW TOUR DATES


Ken Stringfellow ‘Soft Commands’ is out today on Yep Roc (www.yeproc.com),
which is of course also home of the Minus 5. Tour dates are as follows:

July 16 live on KEXP, 9am Pacific time
July 16 KS/Bridget St. John at Wild Buffalo, Bellingham WA
July 17 KS/Bridget St. John at

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DOG OF THE WEEK


Meet Cosmo who claims to be a 6 year old tabby cat. However, evidence suggests that Cosmo is actually a dog trapped in a catsuit (we suspect a Halloween party gone astray coupled with the no-opposable thumbs issue). Cosmo is a sporty boy who loves to play fetch and hunt

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MICHAEL PENS INTRO TO NEW BOOK


Michael has written the foreword to a new book by Steve Taylor of XFM Radio. The book, The A to X of Alternative Music, is described as the “essential reference companion for anyone who loves music made–and listened to–outside the mainstream.” Find out more about The A

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DOG OF THE WEEK


This week’s canine best in show is Sadie, 95 pounds of Chocolate Lab muscle (mostly); she is a true Aries – – extremely energetic @ the age of 11 years; enthusiastic and completely confident (no matter how BIG an approaching dog might be, she always thinks she’s bigger)  and her