R.E.M.’s Original Lineup Performs Publicly for the First Time in Nearly Three Decades at Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony (2024)

Jem Aswad

·4 min read

R.E.M.’s Original Lineup Performs Publicly for the First Time in Nearly Three Decades at Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony (1)

The four founding members of R.E.M. performed together publicly for the first time in nearly three decades at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony in New York on Thursday night, playing an acoustic version of their breakthrough song, 1991’s “Losing My Religion.”

With characteristic understatement, the group — singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry — showed their respect for the honor and the institution, their friendship and decades-long bond, and in gracious terms, fans, family, friends, and everyone who helped them along the way.

More from Variety

“Writing songs and having a catalog of work that we’re all proud of — that is out there for the rest of the world for the rest of time —is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did,” said Stipe, who delivered the speech while his bandmates stood alongside him. “Second to that is that we managed to do so all those decades and remain friends —and not just friends, but dear friends.”

Although the four members performed together in 2016 at a private event for longtime manager Bertis Downs, their last major concert took place in 1995, concluding a problem-plagued tour that ultimately led to Berry’s departure two years later. The remaining three members last performed in 2008 and amicably split in 2011.

The group’s fellow 2024 inductees were Steely Dan, producer Timbaland, and songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Dean Pitchford and the late Cindy Walker.

Following the format of the show —which sees one of the songwriter’s hits played by an influencee, followed by the induction and then the honoree’s performance — Jason Isbell started R.E.M.’s segment by playing the group’s polysyllabic 1987 hit, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).”

“I never sang so many syllables so fast in my life,” Isbell joked, recalling memorizing the song’s tongue-twisting lyrics as a kid — and how he’d thought that feat would never be useful.

“I heard their songs on the radio all time, and it’s safe to say thousands of outcast kids in the South had that same experience.”

R.E.M.’s Original Lineup Performs Publicly for the First Time in Nearly Three Decades at Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony (2)

Stipe’s speech followed —beginning with him thanking Isbell, saying “I can’t believe you chose that song to cover,” to laughter. Turning more serious, he continued, “We are four people who very early on decided that we would own our own masters and we would split our royalties and songwriting credits equally — we were all for one and one for all,” a goal they attained in a remarkably short time for their era. “Some of those song we we recorded turned out good, sometimes great, and what a ride it has been. It truly means the world to us to be recognized for that, and tonight we thank you for this honor.”

After fans, families and several dozen music executives by name, Stipe concluded with a heartfelt tribute to the band’s longtime manager, Bertis Downs: “for allowing us the space to create, to follow our gut, to follow our instincts, to disappear into the music, to not have to be concerned with aspects of the industry that would have or could have prevented us from focusing on the most important part: the songwriting and the songs. And for that gift, Bertis we are forever grateful.”

The band then walked over to the performance area. “We’re R.E.M., and this is what we did,” Stipe said and the bandmembers — Stipe with guitarist Peter Buck on mandolin, bassist Mike Mills playing 12-string acoustic guitar and singing harmony, and drummer Bill Berry, who left the band in 1997, on percussion.

Their appearance was brief, but no one was disappointed.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

R.E.M.’s Original Lineup Performs Publicly for the First Time in Nearly Three Decades at Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony (2024)

FAQs

What is historically significant about R.E.M. in music history? ›

One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style; Stipe's distinctive vocal quality, unique stage presence, and obscure lyrics; Mills's melodic bass lines and backing vocals; and Berry's tight, economical drumming style.

What does R.E.M. stand for in music groups? ›

R.E.M., named for a dream-state condition (rapid eye movement), formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, a university town about 65 miles (105 km) northeast of Atlanta that was already internationally noted for its local pop scene by the time R.E.M. released Chronic Town, its 1982 debut extended-play recording.

Is R.E.M. in the Hall of Fame? ›

Legendary alternative rock band R.E.M. marked their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night by giving nostalgic fans something they've been dreaming about for roughly 17 years: a reunion.

What is important about REM? ›

All sleep is important, but REM sleep in particular plays an important role in dreaming, memory, emotional processing, and healthy brain development. Dreaming: A majority of your dreams take place during REM sleep. However, REM is not the only stage in which dreams occur — that's actually a common myth about sleep.

What made REM so good? ›

R.E.M. has the ultimately winning combination of their sound(s) and the underground aesthetic that helped inspire more American bands than Velvet Underground and The Ramones combined (I can't quantify that assertion but I still feel confident in proclaiming it).

Why did R.E.M. quit? ›

It wasn't that the band had felt like it had stopped creating good music, Buck went on, it was more simply they were growing tired of everything that went along with being in R.E.M. “We felt like we made a great last record,” he said.

How did R.E.M. change music? ›

R.E.M. "invented" alternative rock

McKinley, Jr. at The New York Times. R.E.M. didn't play power chords, and were unafraid to write about weird, sometimes angsty things, says Rob Sheffield at Rolling Stone. "It was R.E.M. who showed other eighties bands how to get away with ignoring the rules."

Is Michael Stipe in a relationship? ›

Personal life. Stipe is vegetarian and owned a vegetarian restaurant, the Grit, in Athens, Georgia. He lives with his long-term partner, photographer Thomas Dozol, in New York and Berlin.

Will REM ever reunite? ›

Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills remain on good terms, but the tour haven't performed together since their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2007. Talking to Mason, they said that they're never, ever getting back together.

Is REM indie rock? ›

R.E.M. is the indie band that went on to sell out stadiums; their arrival marked the beginning of alternative rock. They're strange, poetic, guarded and mischievous—we wouldn't have it any other way.

What is REM sleep most known for? ›

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the stage of sleep where most dreams happen. Its name comes from how your eyes move behind your eyelids while you're dreaming. During REM sleep, your brain activity looks very similar to brain activity while you're awake. REM sleep makes up about 25% of your total time asleep.

What is the biological significance of REM sleep? ›

REM sleep may also play a role in modulating the pruning and maintenance of new synapses during the process of learning new motor skills [45]. Finally, REM sleep appears to play a role in regulating emotions during subsequent wakefulness in humans [46,47].

Who did REM influence? ›

Alternative bands such as Nirvana, Pavement, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pearl Jam (the band's vocalist Eddie Vedder inducted R.E.M. into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and Live, have drawn inspiration from R.E.M.'s music.

What happened during REM? ›

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

During REM sleep, your eyes twitch and your brain is active. Brain activity measured during REM sleep is similar to your brain's activity during waking hours. Dreaming usually happens during REM sleep. Your muscles normally become limp to prevent you from acting out your dreams.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5616

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.