REM on Letterman - 1983 (Bonus JG 4003)

[alanz]

Peter Buck on a Jet Glo 360, Mike Mills on a Jet Glo 4003 (presumably).

[miltric]

This is one of my very favorite clips.

There has been a recent clip explosion on YouTube of REM playing live in the early days--some of them are quite good in terms of performance and audiovisual. And I never seem to get enough of watching PB thrash his 360 JG (or, in the case of some footage from Europe during the Fables tour, his 340 MG).

[alanz]

I'm with you, I think this is a GREAT clip of a soon to be great band who at the moment are very young, very hungry and full of energy. I dug this song the first time I heard it on KROQ driving to university one day and have been a fan ever since, even though I think they lost their creative force when Bill left.

[bosco64]

I just can't believe that it's been 25 years! Where has the time gone?

[johnallg]

I just can't believe that it's been 25 years! Where has the time gone?

Look in the mirror.....

[bosco64]

I just can't believe that it's been 25 years! Where has the time gone?

Look in the mirror.....

Don't remind me!

[jps]

Peter Buck on a Jet Glo 360, Mike Mills on a Jet Glo 4003 (presumably).

Not a 4003, but an early '70s 4001; FWI, 1/2" toaster, etc.

[marc61]

Hmmm..This must have been their first time on Letterman. I remember an appearance(could it have been the same night?), that they also played South Central Rain(they called it a song "too new to be named"). Despite a stellar performance of the song, the band was perturbed with the Letterman show in general, and in fact, Michael Stipe refused to speak with Dave. Not sure, but I believe the incident had to do with an issue with security, and how they were treated.

Not that I had anything to do with it but, Mike Mills and I did have a discussion about that 4001 at the 40 Watt Club in Athens. Apparently he had the same issue I did with breaking strings. We both felt the problem was playing close to the bridge, and the shape of the bride saddles. He noticed the badass II bridge that Ken Smith had installed for me. I did it because of Geddy Lee (of course). What a coincidence that he went that route after our discussion.

Even though his decision probably came after talking with more technical people, I like to pretend that was my contribution to rock history

[marc61]

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OK, here's the clip I was talking about. I believe I misremembered(ha ha). From the appearance of this it seems Michael Stipe just didn't want to be spokesperson, and/or didn't appreciate the humor of the situation as he was always a very serious artist.

[phlemmy]

stipe was always a bit shy...


this is definitely during the rare era when they were a great band...of course i despised them back then but respect their early stuff now.

south central rain is a brilliant tune.

[chucksimms]

I remember tuning in for that and being SO excited- I loved Letterman and he had my favourite contemporary band on! I still maintain that Mike Mills best sound was with a Rick. The bass on Murmur is much better than the later albums featuring Fenders. Why do they switch?

[marc61]

Why do they switch?

Peer pressure ha ha ha

I remember switching from Rick to a J Bass just cuz the band thoguht Fender had the sound. Now when I talk to the old bandmates, they say "Why did you sell that Ric? It had the best sound.".

[JakeK]

Pretty cool vid. Thanks for posting!

[feedback]

Never mind Letterman.....Stipe was on the 'One Show' in the UK Tue....wtf...I just came in to see his face as a cover band wrung out 'End..World', obviously live. He looked genuinly surprised/aghast and started mouthing the words along with the singer, who did a fair old job of it, to an early fade......