News

“I got a text from our great friend and comrade Ian the other day, and it made me chuckle, this beautiful memory of Bill. He said I could share it with you all. Love from Michael”

“I absolutely loved Bill’s laugh. it was a big baritone burst of air. A huge ha. It came from deep in him and you knew exactly when he enjoyed something. It filled the room his laugh did. That and his fantastic hair and smile.

Scott has written a beautiful remembrance of Bill Rieflin at the Minus 5 website. 

“I woke up to the news of Bill Rieflin’s passing this morning. Of course he was a consummate musician; but I hold close my personal memories of Bill the dapper gentleman whose mischievous sense of humor, usually dark, was ever on target;

It is with heavy hearts we acknowledge the death of our dear friend and consummate drummer, Bill.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING: We are happy to report that Return to Mt. Kennedy is now streaming FREE for Amazon Prime subscribers. The film is a warm and increasingly relevant documentary that follows the less traveled path of Bobby Whittaker, long time R.E.M tour manager and friend of the band. As Michael Stipe says, Return to Mt. Kennedy is … Continued

On September 13, 2019, Bill, Peter, and Mike performed a few songs at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta for the “Revival” show to benefit Georgia’s historic theaters. One of the songs was Pylon’s “Crazy” which fans will remember as the opening track on R.E.M.’s Dead Letter Office and one the band had included in their … Continued

Underneath the bunker. We are going to get through it.  

Message from Michael… watch the longer version at michaelstipe.com

We need optimism now more than ever, and our friend Dave Daley has a new book publishing today that chronicles the fight for voting rights and democracy. It offers “hope despite the times.” Buy it here: https://amzn.to/2IXs5EU

“If you go to enough concerts in Portland, you likely have a story of Peter Buck making an unannounced cameo onstage, playing guitar or bass with a friend or band that he’s tight with. He did that last Saturday when Eyelids, the psych-pop group whose last two albums he helped co-producer, played their album release … Continued

Hey everyone, Friday is the release date for the Luke Haines – Peter Buck LP “Beat Poetry for Survivalists.” It’s a freaked-out post- apocalyptic beast of a record. I hope y’all find it disturbing and enlightening. See you out on the road somewhere. ~Peter Album info: http://bit.ly/3au0mYh Tour Dates in the UK: http://bit.ly/2wzaiRS

“Beat Poetry for Survivalists is the whimsical—and rockin’—new collaboration between Peter Buck, late of R.E.M.—maybe you’ve heard of them?” Here’s a glimpse into the collaborative, collective minds of Luke Haines & Peter Buck, on tour in the coming months in support of their new record… Read it HERE

“If ever a band proved you can play rock ‘n’ roll and retain your integrity, that band was R.E.M.” Here are uDiscover’s “20 defining hits” from the band’s career: Is your favorite among their list? What would you add? Add your comments HERE.