Flashback to Vienna, 1995–R.E.M. good friend Klaus Hoffmann recalls some favorite moments: Today is the 22nd anniversary of R.E.M.’s first ever show in Austria at Happel Stadium, Vienna. It was a hot summer’s day with the Cranberries and Belly opening for the band. I did not see much of those two, but have vivid recollections of my … Continued
This week we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of R.E.M.’s Dublin residency at the Olympia Theatre in July of 2007. As you know by now, the shows were recorded and released a couple of years later as “Live at the Olympia” which we like to call “the best R.E.M. record you’ve never heard” as it … Continued
The greatest R.E.M. album you’ve never heard: https://rem.lnk.to/OlympiaLive #REMLiveAtTheOlympia10
Rather than rehearsing in Athens, GA, R.E.M. invited an audience to 5 nights of live rehearsals midway through recording “Accelerate”. Here, Michael explains the concept of the live rehearsals. These live rehearsals took place in 2007 at The Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. June marks the 10th anniversary. Revisit the 2-CD, 1-DVD “Live At The … Continued
Thirty two years ago today, soundcheck for The Longest Day (thanks The R.E.M. Timeline): R.E.M. first met the band from Dublin who became their lifelong friends: it was soundcheck for The Longest Day, June 22nd was the show— at Milton Keynes Bowl in England. The rest, as they say, was history and tonight U2 is celebrating … Continued
“Peter Buck knew he wanted to be in a band with Corin Tucker from the first time he saw Sleater-Kinney play to an empty room in 1997. “It was the day that Princess Diana died,” the former R.E.M. guitarist says. “I remember thinking, ‘Where did these people come from?’ It was a totally unique take on what punk rock was.” … Continued
“We used to end the set with “Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars)” before the encore back in like ’81, so we never really worried about editing it…it just goes on and on.” -Peter Buck #REMLiveAtTheOlympia10 Watch: https://youtu.be/ErdDdjSVk-E
Sun Station Vadsø, the coolest tiny festival, deep in the Arctic Circle, June 22-24 in midsummer Northern Norway. Peter, Mike, Scott and other luminaries assemble under the midnight sun. More info here: https://www.facebook.com/icestationvadso/
At the Heartland Festival in Copenhagen, DK, this week, Michael Stipe and Douglas Coupland discussed the importance of ego (s) in, for example, art, literature, public debate, parenting, media, political culture and reality TV. They asked, among other things, how self-portraits became selfies, what people would look for reality TV, how the self turned into … Continued
On June 5, 1992 OUT OF TIME reached 4-times Multi-Platinum status with sales of 4,000,000 in the USA.
R.E.M. was one of America’s best bands – not just in the sense that the college rockers were from the U.S., but that they wrote and recorded a lot of songs about the country, its history, its future and its struggles. As such, some of the band’s songs make a great guide to America, which … Continued
Peter, Mike, & Scott McCaughey will be in Norway this summer–June 23 & 24–for Sun Station Vadso. The two-day concert features a great lineup with The Baseball Project, Filthy Friends, The Minus 5, and The Dream Syndicate. Learn more at Ice Station Vadsø.
Michael has contributed a PSA to “Hugs for Chelsea,” the benefit album for Chelsea Manning featuring songs by Thurston Moore, Tom Morello, Graham Nash, Ted Leo, and Kimya Dawson. Click link below to show your support… https://hugsforchelsea.bandcamp.com/album/hugs-for-chelsea-benefit-for-chelsea-manning
Michael posted a video clip today announcing an album that will be released to benefit Chelsea Manning who will be released from prison this week.