Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anybody go to this or see it? I guess they played the 40 Watt the night before during a REM tribute night. There are videos for it on you tube of course. It's nice to see Bill back in the band, even if it's just for a day or two.

When Bill left in 1997, REM lost their beat. It hasn't been the same since. God they were so great in the 80s. I love some of the old clips on youtube from back then. The new IRS DVD looks like a real treat.

Agreed. Got to interview him back in July of 1984 during the "Reckoning" tour stop in Montreal. Seemed to be a nice guy, particularly
after weathering twenty minutes of questions from me.

Got a transcript of the interview ?

I agree that REM just isn't the same without Bill. "Up" was alright, "Reveal" has its moments, but the last one was a real snoozer. Despite the band as a whole declining, Michaels vocals are outstanding. His voice sounds better then ever.

The DVD is awesome. The old interview clips and TV show performances are such a treat. No Lettermen performance though. There's a great live performace of Talk About the Passion from a British TV show called the tube. The camera pans to the audience during it and zooms in on these two Cyndi Lauper looking girls with shoulder pads and primped hair trying to sway and dance to the undance-ible song. Good stuff. And yes, lots o'Rick. Except on Pretty Persuasion from the Old Gey Whistle Test, where Pete plays a Telecaster.

My band covers Moral Kiosk.

I could come up with one. Let me look in my files (always sounds so official).

Alex, I just ordered my DVD copy today. I have seen much of it, but it will be great to have all the extras that I have not seen. I agree with your assessment of the post-Berry releases.

Check out this live performance of "Harborcoat" from 1985 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofLGxs7c8xM

I think Pete borrowed that Ric from Mitch Easter. I'm glad to see younger cats like you appreciating AND covering old R.E.M. The 80s produced the only real college rock, in my opinion.

Great stuff! That's the song that I heard in 1984 that turned me on to the band, which explains why "Reckoning" is still my favourite R.E.M. album.

That's cool that someone put that up. I have the whole video of that show. Its from "Rockpalast", some German show in the 80s where they played entire concerts. It's one of my favorite boots ever. They play everything from "Sitting Still" to a freshly written "Fall on Me" (with a different lead vocal melody on the verse!). Its almost two hours long and by the end the band is thrashing out "Paint it Black" while Michael is walking through the crowd grabbing peoples heads and Peter is even singing (more like yelling) back up but you can't hear him. It rules.

Um, I want a copy of that ...

I really enjoyed that clip of 'Harborcoat'. REM was a big discovery for me my freshman year of college, and had a huge impact on me. I love that Rickenbacker guitar sound! Mike Mills is great, too. My band used to cover "Radio Free Europe." It was a great song, very fun bassline. We need to add another vintage REM tune....

Thanks for the tip on the DVD. I'll look for it...

I just learned "Radio Free Europe" on my Ric bass, tonight. It's the first bass cover song I ever learned. Not exactly a tiptoe through the toulips. I recommend a cup of coffee and a cigarette before trying that one.

Steve, I can make you a copy of the video if you'd like. Do you have anything to trade. REM or otherwise?

Alex, I do very much want a copy of that REM gig. I have a bootleg CD of them from around the same time period, which I bought in Athens. The quality is pretty good, but I don't really listen to it. I will trade it to you for a copy of the video. Can you make a DVD, or would it be VHS ? I also have a bunch of U2 gigs from Achtung Baby and Rattle&Hum era, but they are all audio. I also have some Radiohead stuff from the 90s, all from MTV. I could also give you money instead. Please let me know your thoughts.

Steve

That CD sounds cool. do you have specifics like from where and what date?