REM Broke Up!!!

[Sweden]

A statement from Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone magazine, which I agree with and which pretty much mirrors Mitch's views above:

"ANTHONY DECURTIS: They are parting in a very R.E.M. way. No big statement, no huge farewell tour. There's a sense of treating each other with dignity, treating each other with respect, treating their audience with respect. Now, I'd have to say I'd be shocked if they never played again together. These guys are still friends, but I think rather than just kind of let things drift, they felt a need to mark this. And they did it in a very R.E.M.-like way."

[08 Ric 4003]

What makes a great song? Depends on what you like or what moves you. Like I have said before there is no good or bad music - just the music we or (I) like or don't like. What I like may not be what you like. Just like there is no best bassist or guitarist. One can state that a baseball player that hit the most homeruns in his career is the best homerun hitter, but give it time and the record will be broken or tainted by steroids, but how do we say a something like Eddie VH, or Jaco or John Entwistle, Steve Howe or Jimmy Page ect. is the best in there field. He may be your favorite, but music is something that can't be measured or proven with stats. We can say they were influential or there style was groundbreaking. Got off the REM subject a little. LRP was the 1st album by them I ever heard but Murmur is my fav.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

What makes a great song? Depends on what you like or what moves you. Like I have said before there is no good or bad music - just the music we or (I) like or don't like. What I like may not be what you like. Just like there is no best bassist or guitarist. One can state that a baseball player that hit the most homeruns in his career is the best homerun hitter, but give it time and the record will be broken or tainted by steroids, but how do we say a something like Eddie VH, or Jaco or John Entwistle, Steve Howe or Jimmy Page ect. is the best in there field. He may be your favorite, but music is something that can't be measured or proven with stats. We can say they were influential or there style was groundbreaking. Got off the REM subject a little. LRP was the 1st album by them I ever heard but Murmur is my fav.

I wouldn't consider Steve Howe near the best. Excellent classical player - not so much with the electric. Anyway...

What makes something great is subjective, though, you would have to live under a rock for fifty years to say that there wasn't anything special about Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Tiger Woods, Pete Samprus, Miles Davis, Jack Nicholson, etc. They're names that always pop up when talking about the best of something. I may prefer George Harrison over John Lennon, but that doesn't change that general Beatles fans tend to prefer John over George. I love Hendrix, but I don't think he's the best, but so many more people do than don't. Now, I could go beyond mainstream thinking and find someone like Richard Thompson, find one song that I think is great, and no one else would really care. What makes something great? Just opinion. If everyone listened to Richard Thompson, they would probably hear the same song I found, and many people would say it was great. If someone didn't like it, they still couldn't deny there's an aura about it. I am not a huge Who fan, and don't get the appeal of Pete Townsend as a guitar player, but I can't deny them. The Who made a name for themselves. Therefore, they are "great."

[08 Ric 4003]

Love RT saw him once and I have most of his stuff. He is very underrated. Any many people have never heard of him. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning from Rumour And Sigh is my fav. Spelled the English way.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Love RT saw him once and I have most of his stuff. He is very underrated. Any many people have never heard of him. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning from Rumour And Sigh is my fav. Spelled the English way.

REM covered Wall of Death, and may have had him open for them for the Fables tour... I'm not sure, as I haven't seen any proof. I know they at least "begged" him. Peter mentioned him in the When the Light is Mine (Or I Feel Fine?) liner notes for "Disturbance at the Heron House".

[jdawe]

Another Richard Thompson/REM connection - RT played guitar on the Golden Palaminos' "Boy, Go", on which Michael sang.

[Folkie]

And, of course, we all know that Joe Boyd produced both "Fables of the Reconstruction" and lots of Richard and Linda Thompson.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

And, of course, we all know that Joe Boyd produced both "Fables of the Reconstruction" and lots of Richard and Linda Thompson.

...and Fairport Convention, and Nick Drake (Richard played on some of this albums).

[08 Ric 4003]

Did he produce any of Sandy Denny's albums I have two of her CD's both with Richard on the axe.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Did he produce any of Sandy Denny's albums I have two of her CD's both with Richard on the axe.

It's possible.

Man, Fairport and Richard Thompson have influenced all the right people... Zeppelin, R.E.M., Television, Dinosaur Jr., etc.

[08 Ric 4003]

Most people only know Sandy Denny cause she sang on The Battle Of Evermore. Her work with Fairport and solo is great stuff. She has a wonderful voice. Can't decide if I like Liege and Leif or Unhalfbricking more. I have Northstar Grassmand and Sandy. I think I like Sandy more. RT does some nice axework. RT's work with his exwife is smoking it what is considered folk. I love Pour Down Like Silver and everyone's fav is Shoot Out The Lights. I have mixed feelings about Hokey Pokey. Some great stuff but IMO not their best. If you can find an album called First Light by Richard and Linda there is a song called the Choice Wife and RT is doing some amazing acoustic work.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Most people only know Sandy Denny cause she sang on The Battle Of Evermore. Her work with Fairport and solo is great stuff. She has a wonderful voice. Can't decide if I like Liege and Leif or Unhalfbricking more. I have Northstar Grassmand and Sandy. I think I like Sandy more. RT does some nice axework. RT's work with his exwife is smoking it what is considered folk. I love Pour Down Like Silver and everyone's fav is Shoot Out The Lights. I have mixed feelings about Hokey Pokey. Some great stuff but IMO not their best. If you can find an album called First Light by Richard and Linda there is a song called the Choice Wife and RT is doing some amazing acoustic work.

Trust me, I've heard all of those albums/songs. I'm not a fan of Linda's voice, however. http://nostalgiamusicreviews.blogspot.c ... light.html I reviewed Sunnyvista and First Light as one album.

Richard's guitar work after he got a Fender Strat really began to shine too. With his Goldtop LP, he was very subtle and moving, but once he got that sunburst Strat, he tore it up.

[marc61]

I didn't get a chance to listen yet but here's an interesting link for the long time followers

http://www.spin.com/articles/rems-1981- ... ces-online

[Folkie]

Is there anyone out there who hasn't seen the entire footage of the band's 1985 German Rockpalast show?

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2011/0 ... 5-germany/

Since "Fables" is my favorite R.E.M. record, this concert holds a special interest for me. I'd seen parts of the show, but never the whole thing in one sitting.

Robert

[electrofaro]

I never saw it in one piece, so must check out the link! Thanks, Robert!