Information
- • Hometown: - Athens, Georgia, United States
- • Nationality: - American
- • Years Active: - 1980–2011
- • Genre(s): - Alternative Rock • Folk Rock • College Rock • Jangle Pop • Post-Punk
- • Label(s): - Hib-Tone • I.R.S. • Warner Bros. • Capitol • New West • Rhino • Concord Bicycle • Craft
- • Associated Acts: - 10,000 Maniacs • Automatic Baby • The B-52's • The Baseball Project • Filthy Friends • Hindu Love Gods • The Minus 5 • The Troggs • Tired Pony • Tuatara • U2 • The Venus 3 • Warren Zevon • Magnapop
- • Website: - remhq.com
Biography
R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. Liner notes from some of the band's albums list attorney Bertis Downs and manager Jefferson Holt as non-musical members. 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.
In the early 1990s, other alternative rock acts such as Nirvana and Pavement viewed R.E.M. as a pioneer of the genre. After Berry left the band in 1997, the band continued its career in the 2000s with mixed critical and commercial success. The band broke up amicably in 2011 with members devoting time to solo projects after having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide and becoming one of the world's best-selling music acts.
R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free Europe", in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone. It was followed by the Chronic Town EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records. In 1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, Murmur, and built its reputation over the next few years with similarly acclaimed releases every year from 1984 to 1988: Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Lifes Rich Pageant, Document and Green, including an intermittent b-side compilation Dead Letter Office. Don Dixon and Mitch Easter produced their first two albums, Joe Boyd handled production on Fables of the Reconstruction and Don Gehman produced Lifes Rich Pageant. Thereafter, R.E.M. settled on Scott Litt as producer for the next 10 years during the band's most successful period of their career.
They also started co-producing their material and playing other instruments in the studio apart from the main ones they play. With constant touring, and the support of college radio following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit with the 1987 single "The One I Love". The group signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental concerns while playing large arenas worldwide.
• For more information goto their Wikipedia page Click Here
Band Members
- • Bill Berry – drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional bass guitar and keyboards (1980–1997, 2003–2007)
- • Peter Buck – lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, occasional bass guitar and keyboards (1980–2011)
- • Mike Mills – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals and guitar (1980–2011))
- • Michael Stipe – lead vocals (1980–2011)
Videos
"The One I Love" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released on the band's fifth full-length studio album.
The One I Love
"Orange Crush" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was first single from the band's sixth studio album.
Orange Crush
"Stand" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from the album Green in 1989.
Stand
"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a song by rock band R.E.M., which first appeared on their 1987 album.
It's the End Of The World
"Driver 8" is the second single from American musical group R.E.M.'s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction.
Driver 8
"Finest Worksong" is the third and final single released from R.E.M.'s fifth studio album Document. It peaked at number 50.