How R.E.M. changed the game and why there’ll never be another band like them

[@thewordofgord]

I have read this book, it is well worth your time. intelligent and informative.

[@peterjoslyn1]

I’ve loved REM since reading about them in the 80s in Q magazine! So thank you to David and Mark for that. I immediately bought Murmur, and became utterly obsessed with them. No one at that point seemed remotely similar. When they became massive with Out of Time I was just incredibly happy that finally everyone could see what a great band with great songs they were. I was lucky enough to see them live in 1995 at Milton Keynes, with Radiohead supporting. I’m glad they broke up, and they should stay that way!

[@kennethtaylor541]

Didn't think I needed another R E.M. book. After listening to this, turns out I do. Really enjoyed Peter's thoughts here.

[@samsaunders]

Absolutely fantastic book! Worthy of its subject manner. Fantastic author. Highly recommend his Brian Wilson/Beach Boys tome Catch A Wave as well. ✌

[@drychaf]

All very interesting, but the Sleeter Kinney part was fascinating to me - researching how to create a functioning scene and then going at it. So many people do so many things without many people knowing much about it.

[@ozmonaut1]

Excellent interview, and kudos to REM for not becomming a greatest hits cover band like all the other over the hill artists. Rock was a young man's game, and rock is dead, RIP

[@BennyTheBall8899]

I saw them at the Lyceum ballroom in 1984 supported by The Lyres.R.E.M were on stage for hours and those songs from Reckoning and Murmur ( not to mention Michael Stipe crooning Moon River) are something i will never forget❤.

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

I once had the Bingo Handjob acoustic session bootleg on vinyl. Michael Stipe is a charismatic frontman for sure. BTW, there are quite a few good covers by REM, usually on CD singles. First We Take Manhattan (Cohen) is my favourite, but their live version of the great Wichita Lineman is good too.

[@danieladams9950]

Didn't realise that the band were no longer an international force after Bill left. We're still massive in UK up to and including 'Reveal'. The blue stripe Mark referred to with Michael on stage was 2003.

[@SubTroppo]

Melody was the vital component for me with R,E.M. Have a thought for all those recording engineers and producers who have to listen to repetitive dross their entire working lives. Let's hope that they become inured but still are able to react appropriately when the 'real thing' enters their ears.

[@QuesoWatt]

I love REM's music, but their album covers are all (somewhat inexplicably) crap.

[@NewPlanet-j5w]

Disagree. I think they have some iconic covers; Murmur, Reckoning, Green, Automatic, New Adventures, Reveal spring to mind as being particularly good. Understated, a little obscure …yes but crap… definitely not

[@QuesoWatt]

@NewPlanet-j5w I probably misspoke. Got to admit that I'm fond of the covers of Murmur and Reckoning, but I think Lifes Rich Pageant and Automatic for the People are up there with Pet Sounds in the "great albums with terrible artwork" stakes.

[@moonlightbay4814]

Michael Stipe, Michael Stipe, Moby, Moby, Michael Stipe Michael Stipe, Michael Stipe, Moby, Moby, Heston Blumenthal...

[@drssexy2142]

exactly, dude

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Baldy-man connection?

[@BennyTheBall8899]

Y​ul Brynner Yul Brynner😀👍

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

Patrick Stewart, Patrick Stewart?

[@PaIaeoCIive1684]

@JamesWard-d1h That's hilarious! Thanks for that (It wasn't just baldyphobia then). That's the same bloke as in Adam & Joe, I take it. Used to enjoy their show especially the Star Wars parodies.