Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The song from Letterman is called "Bad Day", which is the first single from the Best of CD. Another new song, called "Animal" will probably also be released as a single from that same CD. If you haven't seen the video for "Bad Day", it's hilarious - the guys spoofing news channels like CNN. You haven't lived until you've seen Mike Mills portray a weather man.

Also, if you never saw "Vanilla Sky" or heard the soundtrack, "All the Right Friends" will be a new song for you as well. The CD comes out October 28 in North America.

Guy's, I have to COMPLETELY disagree with both of you. REM (unfortuanely) was a very good band who's new material has evolved into Complaceny (for lack of a better word). If I said they out-right "SUCKED", many fans would be in an uproar. No doubt Buck's best years have past him by and he's been needing to go on a diet for awhile now. These guys "Fell", when (after) they made that hour long PBS special in '96 or '97. It was a documentary of them out, touring, on the road. Stipe was outright insane. He laughed, when the film footage showed how they had to drive around a city looking for a Music Store that sold "TAB" w/ lyrics to their supposed Music Masterpiece's because they forgot how to play a number of songs before their evening concert...what ???? NO LIE Man... Furthermore, the Interviewer asked Stipe on relating REM's material to John Lennon & the Beatles(an Honor to be compared w/ a legend)...Stipe was a complete fool. He so much as said, 'he doesn't owe Lennon one damn thing', moreover, he went on to say that 'Lennon was NOTHING'...
No I know what you're thinking, the guy posting this is clueless...NOT a CHANCE. I'm sure that PBS special is archived somewhere, check it out.
I saw REM play on that NBC FRiday morning concert. Buck's RiC was literally turned-off. If you notice, They had another player in the foreground playing BUCK's parts. Shame, but these guys are very, very fortunate to still have a Major Record deal, very much so. It will be a matter of time before they hit the Rib-off Circuit, like so many other groups.

Stipe gets a lot of flak for his Beatles comments, which I partly understand, but it's still just his opinion. It might be hard to believe, but people can NOT like listening to The Beatles, or Hendrix or any other number of "untouchables". His "The Beatles are elevator music" remark, I always took to mean as more of a slag on the way the music biz flogs a dead horse until even good songs lose all meaning sometimes. Stipe doesn't like The Beatles, or The Beach Boys or things like that - he likes Patti Smith and New York Dolls and punk and glam... Again, it's just his opinion.

As for the Today Show - it was at 8:30 in the morning... I'd like to see any of us critics put on a 5 star performance in the AM for Katie friggin' Couric.

Stipe only writes lyrics as far as I know and Mills and Buck write the music. They both like and are influenced by bands like the Beatles and Beach Boys. Whatever Stipe thinks about them is fine, too.

As far as the PBS special goes, well, if you understood the philosophies of the band and their objectives, you wouldn't be surprised. Are you offended by what you saw? They rarely play old hits live because that's not what they are about (typically). How many bands that have been around for 25+ years are there that don't care to rely on older material? Not many.

I, for one, really enjoy hearing them play their "classics", but I also really enjoy hearing their new material. There live show has tamed a bit, but they still rock.

As far as Peter Buck goes, I don't think this is the forum for discussing his weight, which it appears to me he has lost quite a bit of. I prefer to come here to discuss Rickenbackers and those who play them. Peter is every bit as relevant to the history of the Rickenbacker as Petty, Harrison, and McGuinn.

Finally, when I first fell in love with REM in high school (1983) every friend I had until I got halfway through college scoffed at REM's music. So I'm used to it. I almost became resentful when they became well known outside the college circuit. If they only played Holiday Inn's from now on, I don't think one REM fan would complain. While it's ok for you to express an opinion, I think you ought to consider the musical education level of your audience first. I think you should go bash REM somewhere else.

I watched REM on at least two of their songs that morning. Peter's RIC didn't seem "turned off" at all. Maybe I was "turned on"! I don't count myself as a big REM fan but, I do like alot of their music. Also, I think that Stipe's comments about The Beatles were calculated. What?! Someone doesn't like The BBBB..ee..aatles?!?! Ha ha. It makes for good ink.....(wink wink).

Kurt Cobain (a huge Beatle fan) was working with Stipe when he unfortunately made the decision to end his life. Would have been interesting. Alas, it is said no tapes exist. As I have said, I preferred REM's earliest work. I was ****** at Stipe for his Beatle remark. Not for what he said, but for the fact it seemed so transparent and calculated. As John said, it got him ink.

The song REM played on Letterman, called Bad Day, is actually about 17 years old. They reworked it for the Best Of. It sounds much better now than it did years ago. You can find the old demo at www.remison.com along with some other goodies. For anyone who saw them live you probably witnessed Stipe playing a harmonica during the break.... I think it's to pay homage to the old demo version. It was quite funny when he did because he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing... all the more reason to love him!

Well, I just got off of the tarmac at LAX (I work for the fed gov.). While sitting there in my (work) vehicle, I noticed on a pallet next to me a number of anvil type cases stenciled REM. On top (wrapped in plastic and cargo netting) was a guitar case. I had to. Got out of the car, boosted myself up, but no ID-ing marks...no Ric insignia, no bandmeber name, etc., just an anonymous anvil guitar case w/REM on it. Rats.

This a case where forgiveness shall not be granted. Time for a major security check. Sirens and all.

Anybody else see them on Jay Leno last night.

Going to see them at the Avalon tonight.

I saw them on Leno. Mike Mills is still playing the Fender P-Bass I see (though Peter Buck is still sticking to the RIC).

At the Avalon show last night, Pete played his mudflap-tammy 360 JG for 80% of the night, a 330 BG for one song (the sublime "Life And How To Live It") and what appeared to be an orange Gretsch Nashville for a couple of other songs. Oh, and an SG Jr for one song.

That's about my favorite REM song. First thing I played when I got my 330;)

Kenny, for the benefit of the uneducated among us (me) would you please explain the phrase "mudflap-tammy"? It sounds like some denizen of a truck stop. Thanks.