R.E.M.

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R.E.M.

R.E.M. was formed in April, 1980 at Athens, Ga., and became a cult favorite and critical darling -- their debut was named 1983's best album by "Rolling Stone," over Michael Jackson's Thriller -- before eventually becoming an international phenomenon.

[edit] About

Mike Mills was born on December 17, 1958 while Bill Berry was born on July 31, 1958. They both attended high school in Macon, Ga. Together, they performed in a number of bands during their youth.

"Michael Stipe" was born on January 4, 1960. He was a military brat. During his youth, he discovered punk rock through udnerground acts like Patti Smith, Television and Wire. He performed in various cover Bands in St. Louis. He studies at the University of Georgia in Athens majoring in Arts, spending much time in Athens' fabled Wuxtry Records.

"Peter Buck" was born on December 6, 1956 in California. He used to work in Wuxtry Records as a clerk. He loved to collect albums and began playing guitar. He met Stipe at Wuxtry, and when they discovered similar taste, the two began working together. They met Mills and Berry through their mutual friend.

Together they formed a band to play a party for their friend. The group's name was called Twisted Kites. In summer of 1980, the four changed their name into R.E.M. in April 1980. They met Jefferson Holt who became their manager after witnessing the group's first out-of-state concert in North Carolina.

In 1981, they released their first single "Radio Free Europe" which became hit on college radio. The single also earned the attention of largest independent labels. In the early part of 1982, R.E.M. signed a recording contract to I.R.S. Records; they released their first EP Chronic Town which also became hit.

In 1983, the group released their first studio album Murmur. Their album receive a good reviews from music critics. They beat Michael Jackson album Thriller as the best album of 1983 by Rolling Stone. It wasn't until 1987's "Document," with its single "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" that the band achieved any mainstream success.

In October 1997, Bill shocked his fans and the media when he announced that he was retiring and will more concentrate on his farm already. The group minus Bill still continues to perform in other place. The band hired a new full-time drummer "Bill Rieflin" who had been a former member of Ministry. But they just hired him for their tour. The band remains an official three-piece.

On September 16, 2006, the band together with Bill had performed during the ceremony to honor their induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

[edit] Awards & Certifications

[edit] Chart Toppers

[edit] News

[edit] Tours & Concerts

There are no current tour and concert schedules for R.E.M..

[edit] Announcements

There are no announcements as of this time

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Murmur 1983-04-12 IRS	Reckoning 1984-04-09 IRS	Fables of the Reconstruction 1985-06-10 IRS	Lifes Rich Pageant 1986-07-28 IRS
Document 1987-09-01 IRS	Green 1988-11-07 Warner Bros.	Out of Time 1991-03-08 Warner Bros.	Automatic for the People 1992-10-02 Warner Bros.
Monster 1994-09-23 Warner Bros.	New Adventures in Hi-Fi 1996-09-06 Warner Bros.	Up 1998-10-26 Warner Bros.	Reveal 2001-05-14 Warner Bros.
Around the Sun 2004-10-04 Warner Bros.	Accelerate March 31, 2008 Warner Bros.

[edit] EPs

Chronic Town 1982	Near Wild Heaven 1991	Radio Song 1991	Shiny Happy People 1991
Drive 1992	Man on The Moon 1992

[edit] Singles

Radio Free Europe June 1983	S. Central Rain 1984	Rockville 1984	Wendell Gee 1985
Driver 8 1985	Fall on Me 1986	Superman 1986	The One I Love 1987
Finest Worksong 1988	Orange Crush 1988	Stand 1988	Turn You Inside Out 1988
Parade of The Wooden Soldiers 1988	Get Up 1989	Where's Captain Kirk? 1992	Everybody's Hurt 1993
Strange Currencies 1995	Crush With Eyeliner 1995	Electrolite 1997	At My Most Beautiful 1998
Lotus 1998	Suspicion 1998	Imitation of Life 2001	I'll Take The Rain 2001
Bad Day 2003	Electron Blue 2005	Wanderlust 2005

[edit] Compilations

Dead Letter Office 1987-04-27	Eponymous 1988	Single Action Green 1989	Singles Collection 1991
The Best of R.E.M. 1991-09-30	The Automatic Box 1993-11-30	Singles Collected 1994-09-22	The Originals 1995
Essential R.E.M.: R.E.M. in the Attic (Alternative Recordings 1985-89) 1997-10-07	In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 2003-10-27	And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 2006-09-11	R.E.M. Live October 16, 2007 Warner Bros.