Legendary different rock band R.E.M. marked their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday evening by giving nostalgic followers one thing they have been dreaming about for roughly 17 years: a reunion.
Fans have waited years to see the band onstage once more, and Thursday evening they bought it – one surprise tune, one time solely, when R.E.M carried out an acoustic model of their Grammy award-winning hit, “Losing My Religion.”
The intimate and soulful efficiency was the primary time that frontman Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry performed collectively publicly since 2007 once they had been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
R.E.M.’s surprise reunion
The band was already quietly plotting the reunion in February when “CBS Mornings” visited them at their previous rehearsal area in Athens, Georgia, the place they shaped in 1980. Since then, they’ve launched 15 studio albums and offered tens of millions of information, turning into one of the most well-liked bands in historical past, earlier than breaking apart in 2011.
“Everybody here is sworn to secrecy,” stated Mills in regards to the chance of taking the stage together with his former bandmates through the interview.
When requested what it might take to get the unique band again collectively, the bandmates chuckled and jokingly advised “a comet” or “super glue.”
Thursday’s reunion stunned and delighted followers, however R.E.M. stated do not count on another.
Buck stated he would not know what he’d be making an attempt to perform if the group formally bought again collectively. Stipe agreed there’s not going to be another “one last time.”
“It’s like all the reasons you don’t want to do it are still in place. We are lucky enough to have…don’t really love the word ‘legacy,’ that we can leave in place and not mess up. And you don’t get that opportunity but one time. Once you change that, you can’t go back,” Mills defined.
“We had our day in the sun,” Stipe stated.
Back to the start
A reunion tour might not be in R.E.M.’s future, however the bandmates stated they’ve loved reminiscing about their early days and the good items of music they made. Mills stated they “had a lot of fun” of their Athens rehearsal area, particularly.
The honor of being included within the Songwriters Hall of Fame prompted the group to mirror on their songs and what impressed them.
Berry stated The Beatles modified his life when he was simply 7 years previous, inspiring him to develop into a musician.
Mills, Buck and Berry stated they sometimes wrote the music after which gave it to Stipe, who would add within the lyrics. Stipe stated their songs weren’t all the time an instantaneous hit.
“We didn’t always write music or songs that people connected with on the first listen. Sometimes it took seven or eight or even 10 listens before the melodies sunk in. You wake up singing it the next day and then you know you’ve got something,” stated Stipe, joking that it should means the band consists of “very complicated, intelligent people.”
R.E.M.’s 1991 tune “Losing My Religion” rapidly climbed the charts. In 2022, it surpassed over 1 billion views on YouTube, according to Billboard.
The tune’s reputation stunned the band. They by no means thought it might be a success.
“I mean, we made a lot of really good records. And then just randomly, we had a hit single off this thing with a lead mandolin. I was, like, go figure,” Buck stated.
Watch extra of R.E.M.’s interview with “CBS Mornings” here.
