R.E.M. is over
#1
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R.E.M. is over
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,159 R.E.M. breaks up
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"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.
R.E.M."
http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 1,159 R.E.M. breaks up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.
R.E.M."
http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446
#4
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Always would have thought they would be one of those bands that would go on forever. Even though their best years were far behind them, they never fell into self-parody or put out anything that wasn't at least decent.
One of the very, very few bands that I listened to at age 10 and still listen to at age 30.
One of the very, very few bands that I listened to at age 10 and still listen to at age 30.
#5
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: R.E.M. is over
WTF? That sucks. I really liked this last album and listen to it quite often.
They've been together, what? 30 years? This is like the proverbial couple who want to wait until their children are all dead before they file for divorce.
They've been together, what? 30 years? This is like the proverbial couple who want to wait until their children are all dead before they file for divorce.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Honestly how long do you folks want bands to go on? The Beatles were together for 8 years. They did everything, they did it right and they broke up. Same with Led Zeppelin. REM were my favorite band throughout the 80s but their albums delivered less and less truly original and satisfying moments as the years went on. Personally I found the last two albums listenable but hollow shells of a once great band.
Unfortunately for them, they set such a high standard in the first 15 years of their career, most of us couldn't handle REM just being a very good band. Unfortunately for us, there's no band that ever came close to filling their shoes.
Unfortunately for them, they set such a high standard in the first 15 years of their career, most of us couldn't handle REM just being a very good band. Unfortunately for us, there's no band that ever came close to filling their shoes.
#7
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Haven't really liked their albums since Automatic For The People, but always sad to hear about a great (even once great) band hanging their hats up.
They were always fantasic in concert and that is why I am more sad...
They were always fantasic in concert and that is why I am more sad...
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Re: R.E.M. is over
Final statements:
MIKE
"During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.
"We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right."
MICHAEL
"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.
"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way.
"We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."
PETER
"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.
"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world."
MIKE
"During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.
"We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right."
MICHAEL
"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.
"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way.
"We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."
PETER
"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.
"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world."
#11
Banned by request
Re: R.E.M. is over
Nice to see them walking away without a big fight. Also, I haven't enjoyed their ouput since Up, so to me this is no big loss. Their awesome records will always be around for us to listen to.
#13
Re: R.E.M. is over
Still love their first 4-5 albums immensely. They were one band with whom I didn't get their musical progression.
It seemed inevitable since Peter Buck seems to pop up on every other album I listen to.
It seemed inevitable since Peter Buck seems to pop up on every other album I listen to.
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: R.E.M. is over
Not a fan of much post-Automatic, though I did like a couple of the songs on Around the Sun - "Leaving New York" and "The Outsiders". Probably my favorite band growing up. Elliptical, haunting lyrics set to gorgeous melodies - what's not to love?
#15
Re: R.E.M. is over
I admit this is a band I hadn't followed for many years. Earlier this year I started to pick up some of the reissues from their catalog and found a while new respect for them. Sorry to see them go, but at least it was on amicable terms and I'm sure well continue to see some creative output from Stipe and Buck in some form or fashion.
#16
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Re: R.E.M. is over
#18
Senior Member
Re: R.E.M. is over
Seems like a good idea to me, go out while they were still creatively vital to some degree. Really though they hadn't been relevant to the majority of the music listening public in a long time.
As far as the post Bill Berry years go though, I will say that Up is a very underrated album IMO.
As far as the post Bill Berry years go though, I will say that Up is a very underrated album IMO.
#19
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Eh, I don't really get the whole "it's over" thing. If you're all still friends and have a nice working relationship, why make a decision to break up? I can see taking an indefinite hiatus if people want to do other things in their lives besides making records and touring, but why rule out EVER doing anything as REM again?
#20
DVD Talk Legend
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Seems like a good idea to me, go out while they were still creatively vital to some degree. Really though they hadn't been relevant to the majority of the music listening public in a long time.
As far as the post Bill Berry years go though, I will say that Up is a very underrated album IMO.
As far as the post Bill Berry years go though, I will say that Up is a very underrated album IMO.
#21
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Re: R.E.M. is over
Always would have thought they would be one of those bands that would go on forever. Even though their best years were far behind them, they never fell into self-parody or put out anything that wasn't at least decent.
One of the very, very few bands that I listened to at age 10 and still listen to at age 30.
One of the very, very few bands that I listened to at age 10 and still listen to at age 30.
As a Georgia boy, they've been my band for as long as I can remember. It's a bittersweet day...
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: R.E.M. is over
Eh, I don't really get the whole "it's over" thing. If you're all still friends and have a nice working relationship, why make a decision to break up? I can see taking an indefinite hiatus if people want to do other things in their lives besides making records and touring, but why rule out EVER doing anything as REM again?
#23
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Thread Starter
Re: R.E.M. is over
There's got to be some money in announcing it. It gets them in the press and probably causes some people to start buying their music again. They can also release a new greatest hits set from their whole lifespan. Plus absence makes the heart grow fonder, so if they decide to have a reunion tour or even put out another album after awhile there will probably be higher demand.
Maybe I'm naive but I just don't get that feeling from these guys. You never know what the future holds but every step of their career they've shown such integrity and dedication to the music I don't see them doing this for a cynical reason like selling albums (which I doubt will happen anyway). Personally I don't see them ever reuniting again.
#24
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Re: R.E.M. is over
I've been a fan since Chronic Town. I love the IRS years. Everything since AFTP has been somewhat subpar, but still worthwhile. They remain one of my favorite bands. My biggest problem with them in recent years is that everything they release is too damn loud. Overly compressed reissues, as well as new releases that are brickwalled to the point of being almost unlistenable.
It's been an interesting 30 years.
Thanks for all the great music, guys. Mediocre R.E.M. is still better than 90% of the stuff that's been released during the past three decades.
It's been an interesting 30 years.
Thanks for all the great music, guys. Mediocre R.E.M. is still better than 90% of the stuff that's been released during the past three decades.
#25
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: R.E.M. is over
Same here. I really wanted to like their last two albums, and I can tell there are some good songs there. But I just can't listen to them because it's so fatiguing. Hopefully once the loudness wars have been lost, someone with some sense will go back and re-mix these. Sad thing is R.E.M. used to have some of the best sounding albums out there.