More News From Ice Station Vadsø‬: “When The Levee Breaks”


We posted a photo earlier of Mike, Peter, and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones rehearsing backstage at ‪#‎icestationvadsø‬… prepping “Rockville” for the show that took place tonight. That was a cool moment, and here’s another from our intrepid man in the field, Bertis Downs, who snapped this shot of Kurt Bloch on guitar, Mike Mills … Continued

‎Icestationvadsø‬ Update


Great photo of Mike, John Paul Jones, and Peter rehearsing backstage at #‎icestationvadsø‬…  

Michael Stipe Plays Surprise Set in NYC, Opening for Patti Smith


MIchael made a surprise appearance last night at the Beacon Theatre in NYC where he opened for Patti Smith with a set of covers. He performed songs by John Lennon, Mott the Hoople, The Doors, David Bowie, &  Neil Young among others. He also joined Patti Smith on stage for “People Have The Power.” Read … Continued

Picture Postcard from the Edge of the Top of the World


As noted earlier here and elsewhere, tonight was the first of two shows of‪ #‎IceStationVadsø‬ and it was quite a night for music lovers in Norway, wherever they were from. And quite a few had traveled to be here. Peter and Mike played in various concoctions of the immense musical talent on stage. There are … Continued

Ice Station Vadsø Update


Farmhouse on the edge of Vadso, Norway, where the visiting musicians are doing a session with some Sami (indigenous people from the far north) musicians. That’s Peter Buck and John Paul Jones on the left, Steve Wynn on the right, and amazing Finnmark singer Elle Marja Eira who sings hypnotic trance like improvisations called yoiks. … Continued

Peter To Play Cross-Linx in February


Peter Buck will be in the lineup at the the Cross-Linx festival which was just announced yesterday… 4 shows of eclectic musicians playing all over Holland in February… more to come: Cross-Link Festival News

Lifes Rich Pageant Tower Records Display & A New Documentary


Old-school record store days! Check out the hand-made Foamcore wall display made by the artists at Tower Records Berkeley to promote LIFES RICH PAGEANT in 1986. For more on those crazy heavy metal loving Tower Records Berkeley store artists (that helped influence the in-store look of Tower Records stores moving forward in the 80’s), check … Continued

Green Release Anniversary


R.E.M.’s sixth studio album and first on Warner Bros. was released on this date in history in 1988. The album was produced by Scott Litt and the band and featured the following track listing: Side one – “Air side” “Pop Song 89” – 3:04 “Get Up” – 2:39 “You Are the Everything” – 3:41 “Stand” – 3:10 “World Leader Pretend” – … Continued

Vienna Promo Show Anniversary


November 6 marks the anniversary of R.E.M.’s legendary UP promo show from 1998 at the Orpheum. The show was special for a number of reasons–the gathering of fan club members from countries all around the former east and our long and wonderful connection to Klaus Hoffmann of Warner Austria, a longtime friend and fan of … Continued

Nov. 1 2008: Buenos Aires Revisted


On this day in 2008, the band played in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Personal Fest 2008, Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires, with support from Bloc Party & The Kaiser Chiefs… Here’s the set (with a nod to The R.E.M. Timeline ): Living Well Is The Best Revenge / I Took Your Name / What’s … Continued

R.E.M. at the Peppermint Lounge, Halloween show Oct. 31, 1983


Here’s a photo by our good pal Laura Levine. Laura dug this fantastic memory out of her photo crypt just in time for Halloween. In seeing the photo, Michael said, “I just hugged Jim Fouratt Happy Halloween at Christeene’s show at Joe’s Pub in NYC” So Happiest of Halloweens to all and thanks to Laura … Continued

UP Anniversary Video Flashback


We’re taking a look at some of the videos from R.E.M.’s 11th studio album, UP, this week (released Oct. 26th, 1998). Here’s a great performance of “Lotus” from Top of the Pops:   LOTUS