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R.E.M. News
REM Performs at the
40 Watt
09/13/2006 - 1:52am.
More photos
REM surprised Athens tonight with a rousing two song set with Bill Berry
on drums. The band performed at the beginning of an event paying tribute to the band on the eve of their Hall of Fame induction.
Stipe took to stage, explaining that the band including Bill were recording
locally and decided to stop by.
The band played Begin the Begin and So. Central Rain
before exiting and watching other Athens bands perform their songs. According to Stipe, plans for the performance began gestating
today and came together quickly.
R.E.M. Bringing Back The Rock On New Album (Billboard)
09/11/2006
http://billboard.com/bbcom/news/arti..._id=1003119875
Gary Graff, Detroit
R.E.M. this week will release classic and rare material from its first five
years on I.R.S. Records, but bassist Mike Mills says the veteran group remains most interested in moving forward with new
music. As previously reported, R.E.M. is getting ready to return to the studio to record the follow-up to 2004's "Around the
Sun."
"We'll start rehearsals probably some time in the next month or two," Mills tells Billboard.com. "I think [guitarist]
Peter [Buck] and I probably both have a tone of stuff, but we haven't sat down and played it for each other yet. I don't think
in terms of directions, but I think this next record might have a little more rock to it. I like 'Around the Sun," but I think,
honestly, it turned out a little slower than we intended for it to, just in terms of the overall speed of songs."
In
addition to R.E.M.'s early classics, the two-CD compilation "And I Feel Fine" features 11 unreleased tracks, foreshadowing
a possible larger rarities boxed set at some point in the future. "We don't have any set plans," Mills says, "but I wouldn't
be surprised if one day well into the future one or more of us will probably start digging through the pile and seeing if
there's anything worth putting out. And if there is, maybe we'll do a fun box set with all kinds of even weirder stuff than
this."
And although five vintage concert cuts are included on "And I Feel Fine," Mills says the prospect of an R.E.M.
live album has never held much interest for the band.
"In my personal opinion, there are some great live albums," he
explains. "[The Allman Brothers Band's] 'Fillmore East' is something I'll always enjoy. But for R.E.M., my feeling is if you
weren't there, you missed it. The music is meant to be heard in conjunction with seeing the band in those situations, and
I don't really like separating the two.
"But," he adds, "depending on what we find in the vaults, some more of that
[live] stuff could make its way out."
This week, Mills, Buck and vocalist Michael Stipe will reunite with ex-drummer
Bill Berry to rehearse for R.E.M.'s induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The foursome will play three songs on Saturday
(Sept. 16) at the ceremony in Atlanta, although Mills said no decisions have yet been made on which.
POSTCARD FROM HOME
09/05/2006
Things are heating up here in Athens with the impending release of The Best of the I.R.S. Years
(1982-1987) And I Feel Fine on September 12th, exactly one week from today. We're particularly pleased with how
the "bonus" disc turned out with various band favorites, live tracks, outtakes, and other rarities, not to mention the DVD
with its feast of obscurties and little seen videos from another era… If you haven't had a chance, click on the link
to the mini-site from the main page of remhq.com where you can preview tracks and video. Click on this link to watch some just recently posted clips of the video for Wolves, Lower and
a live performance of Radio Free Europe from The Tube. You can also click here for details on pre-ordering both the CD and DVD.
Michael just spent a couple
of days in London doing some press for the record, and a good podcast from the Times of London is HERE; We will endeavor to provide links to ongoing coverage on our FYI page for those interested in reading some of the Michael interviews from wherever they are
published (and in whatever language).
Although we are not officially involved, we are keenly interested in the 40 Watt Finest Worksongs show next Tuesday featuring many great Athens bands doing the songs of R.E.M. as a special
listening party to commemorate the release of the Best Of and to once again benefit two worthy local charities, Community Connection and Family Connection/Communities in Schools, that have been involved with us all the way back to the listening parties from the
Automatic days. It should be a great fun night and all thanks goes to Jeff Montgomery and Troy Aubrey of AthensMusic.net
who have pulled the whole thing together. . .if you are in the neighborhood be sure to stop by for what will be an inspiring
set of performances of R.E.M. music.
Next week, the guys will assemble here in Athens to rehearse with Bill Berry for
the first time in a decade for their upcoming appearance at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame next Saturday night, September 16th, in Atlanta. It should be a fun and eventful night,
given the other nominees, and the chance to see the original Berry Buck Mills and Stipe back in action, and while they are
here, they are considering recording something for a yet-to-be-announced charitable project (too early to mention but stay
tuned for details as they develop). Peter, Mike and Michael are ready to start the process of decisions relating to the next
record, which they expect to start working on in earnest before too long. We will know more after next week…
Finally,
Michael wanted us to mention the excellent post in the Huffington Post on our friend and a great Georgian, Max Cleland.
I guess that is it
from here. Watch this space as these things develop--to be continued…
Bertis
10.08.05
 The band put together an impromptu performance tonight in Athens at R.E.M guitar
tech Dewitt Burton's wedding reception. Roughly three-hundred people packed into a tiny arcade room at the bowling alley where
the reception was held as Peter, Michael, Mike, and Bill Berry ripped through a scorching seven-song set that included "Sitting
Still," "Rockville," "Wolves, Lower," "Begin the Begin," "The One I Love," "Permanent Vacation," and "Radio Free Europe."
It was the first time the original lineup has performed together since a concert in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the In
Time tour in 2003. Michael Stipe toasted the bride and groom, Jackie and Dewitt, on several occasions throughout the set as
the reception guests yelled request upon request at the band--"Begin the Begin" was requested by the bride. Asked what he
thought about the set and the evening, Mike Mills commented that "It was awesome to look behind me and see Bill on drums."
A
good time was had by all, with chillbumps, phone cameras, cold beer and throat lumps all co-mingling!
Kingpins Set
List, October 8th, Athens, GA:
Sitting Still
Rockville
(Mike Mills on vocals)
Wolves, Lower
Begin the Begin
The One I Love
Permanent Vacation
Radio Free Europe
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above: Peter, Michael, Bill, and Mike after the show in Athens (George Werner)
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