“A lot of bands simply wanted to fit in, but R.E.M. always wanted to be themselves. I guess a correct way of putting it would be ‘cocky.’ They were like, ‘We rule. Here we come, so get out of the way.’ It wasn’t so much a careerist mindset; rather, it was their insistence on pure artistry. They meant it. When I first heard them, I thought, Yes. I know what to do with this. This is going to be great.”
Always insightful, candid, and eloquent, Mitch Easter, looks back on his time recording R.E.M. and what made the sound and the band distinctive in this interview with Guitar Player.
(Image credit: Dustin Finkelstein/WireImage from Guitar Player article)