REM Broke Up!!!

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... s-20110921

I'm not sure what to think.

[collin]

Hey, I applaud them -- know when to hold em and when to fold em.

They have produced some killer material the past few decades, but it's best to end it amicably without staying together and playing music that is sub-quality, especially if it's for the money (I feel bands like the Rolling Stones are guilty of this).

Hell, 31 years is longer than most bands, so nicely done.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Hey, I applaud them -- know when to hold em and when to fold em.

They have produced some killer material the past few decades, but it's best to end it amicably without staying together and playing music that is sub-quality, especially if it's for the money (I feel bands like the Rolling Stones are guilty of this).

Hell, 31 years is longer than most bands, so nicely done.

Well, REM do have their fair share of bad music, including this last album, Collapse into Now. It's indicated that this may have been because of their label, WB, and not the band's lack of enthusiasm (Because the album is so lazy...).

A lot of fans have already said they look forward to rarities and side projects, but when it gets to that point... I am glad I saw them on their last tour. Peter is my hero, and to see him and Michael in person was a big deal for me.

[jdawe]

R.E.M. is my all-time favorite band, but all things run their course. I'm glad they managed to squeeze one last excellent album (Accelerate). I thought "Collapse" was OK ("bad" seems a little harsh to me), but it seemed like the work of a band that was running out of steam.

If ever a band was entitled to rest on its laurels, it is these guys. Few bands have put out a string of five albums as consistently good as REM's IRS catalog, and while the WB albums never grabbed me in quite the same way, many of them are excellent in their own right.

I hope that thirty years from now there will still be a few kids who stumble across Murmur or Fables and are possessed by a sudden desire to play a Rickenbacker like Peter.

[Low End Lover]

I always check remhq.com once a week and I saw this today. Absolutely one of the most unique and consistently interesting bands in rock. Every album always had some great stuff on it. They were an incredible band. I'll never forget seeing that early footage with the twin Ric attack. My first Ric was a 4003 JG because of Mike Mills and I love playing his lines on it...
Well, all good things must come to an end and so it is with rem. However, there is enough creative energy in Michael, Peter and Mike that we will be seeing them doing lots of other stuff, which is an exciting prospect to be sure.
On a selfish note, I am glad they didn't do this tomorrow and it is my birthday and that would have been just a bit too much to take in.

Feeling Gravity's Pull...

LEL (Jason)

[electrofaro]

I blame Facebook...

Their music was there when my life was less good, they got me through it,
I thank them for all of what they've done for me and, a lot of other people!

[Sweden]

I need time to digest this, but what this band has meant to me cannot easily be put into words. Their music, values and views have influenced and affected me for two thirds of my life, and I will forever be grateful to them for that.

I saw them live 22 times, have done a pilgrimage to Athena, GA, discovered many tens of bands through them, seen places I otherwise probably wouldn't have visited and gained alarge number of friends through my love for R.E.M.

Thank you Bill, Peter, Mike and Michael. Thank you.

/David

[Folkie]

This is sad news for so many of us. I liked their early (1982-1986) records the best, but I guess I'm still a little in shock, especially after all the fanfare that surrounded "Collapse into Now." Hey, just a few years ago they started playing pre-1987 material at their shows again. I'd thought that the release of the Dublin Olympia rehearsals/concerts was a sign that they were making a nod to the past, while simultaneously moving in a new direction. I kind of liked what I heard of "Collapse into Now," and was looking forward to seeing them on their next tour (although I'd heard they were not touring to support the new record).

This, as I've said, is a sad moment for me. If it weren't for Peter Buck, I would never have picked up a Rickenbacker. After listening to "Chronic Town," "Murmur," "Reckoning," and "Fables" (and many of the early concert bootlegs) literally hundreds of times, the band's early sound is etched into my brain. Some of their more recent records have been clunkers (and, for me, "Green" and "Monster" were huge disappointments), but sustaining creativity over a long (30 year) career (or even over an entire album) is never easy. Even the Beatles sometimes couldn't do it (Have another listen to the album "Let it Be.")

I'm grateful that R.E.M. had the honor of receiving their Rock Hall induction while they were still together. I only saw them once (back on the "Green" tour, the year I graduated from high school) and, even though I didn't like the new material, the show was exhilarating. These guys just had an extraordinary passion for music and loved communicating with their audience. Farewell to the greatest indie-rock band of all time and one of the seminal American bands of our era.

Robert

[Pumpkinhead]

Call me odd but I rather liked the later material and think that there are some great tracks on all their releases.
I liked "Collapse" and consider that they're going out on a high.

[jdawe]

If it weren't for Peter Buck, I would never have picked up a Rickenbacker.

I got my first Rickenbacker (my 430) about a month after Murmur came out, but it was entirely coincidental. I didn't really discover REM until a few years later when I heard Fables, which led me to go back and acquaint myself with Murmur and Reckoning. But even though Peter didn't inspire me to buy my first Rickenbacker, he's had more influence than any other guitarist on how I play it.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Call me odd but I rather liked the later material and think that there are some great tracks on all their releases.
I liked "Collapse" and consider that they're going out on a high.

A lot of fans don't like Around the Sun. I like the songs, but the production was terrible. Collapse into Now has generally been a hit or miss with fans. Fans like me who hate it think it's lazy, the lyrics aren't up to par (Stipe is one of the best songwriters!), and that the music wasn't good either. Just a lazy release.

But of course, you're not alone. Many people think it's one of the best, and some believe Accelerate is too. They're pretty self conscious, and I don't think they'll look back on CIN with warm feelings, but probably with the feeling that it had potential. I know they do with ATS (There's more footage of Mike playing guitar for that album than Peter, coincidentally).

It's fair to say most artists don't last thirty-one years, and many don't release as good of material REM did in the latter part of their career.

[Pumpkinhead]

A lot of fans don't like Around the Sun. I like the songs, but the production was terrible.

I really like "Electron Blue" and "High Speed Train" off that one. I can't remember the production so I might have to give it a listen. There was a slight similarity in feel to many of the numbers that seemed to give a slightly "flat" sound, IIRC.

To be honest, it seems that you're a much bigger fan than me. I only saw them live a couple of times but have found their stuff inspirational over the years. Maybe it's because I came to them late (Green/Automatic era) that I don't feel quite so precious about the earlier, classic, material.

Like you said, it says a lot that the material that many would consider their worst (i.e. the later stuff) still means a lot to many people.

I'd like to think that they'll all continue with musical projects of some kind and would love to hear what they come up with next. I'm not holding my breath though

[rkbsound]

Hate to be in denial here, but I don't think it's the end...perhaps a new beginning. Looking forward to new collaborations and the odd concert here and there until their next album with a new label!!

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

I'm not sure whether or not I'd be too happy with a Michael Stipe solo album... Unless I played guitar on it.

[8mileshigher]

They won't be forgotten ... certainly not in the Rickenbacker community.