R.E.M. - Don't Go Back To Rockville (Athens Greece 2008)

R.E.M. Don't Go Back To Rockville
October 5, 2008

[@tagjim]

I love how Mike still sings his harmony part in the chorus...even though he's singing lead.

[@willmcdaniel8375]

tagjim i thought the exact same thing, force of habit I guess haha

[@adampecsek]

I don't know if Michael could sing that part lol. Mike has such great range.

[@vikingmomo]

@@adampecsek Michael had the lead in the original cut, on their "Reckoning" album. But Mike wrote the song, I think it is a nod to Michael's decency that he relinquished the lead to Mike for this song. I personally like both versions, but maybe Mike singing lead is just a wee bit better.

[@Terbie36]

@@adampecsek Stipe's vocal tone is much better.

[@MichaelSmith-xk5dg]

Michael Stipe shows his class here. Serves the song and the singer. THIS is what lyrics were about.

[@onicamary123]

REM hits you in places most music can’t.

[@pedrito77]

My one regret in life- not having been to one of their concerts. 😢

[@maxxbenzz7842]

Best REM song period

[@mcsofserv]

"That's Mike Mills!" I said to my friend. It was Fall of 1994 in a tiny dive in San Francisco called the Casa Loma (long since closed). I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted one of my all-time favorite bass players in my neighborhood bar. He was in his trademark suit, accompanied by a small entourage and a beautiful South American girlfriend. I nervously approached him. He was the nicest guy in the world, ended up chatting with me and my friend about music and life for over an hour.

[@sartainja]

I met Mike at a Natalie Merchant concert back in 2010. I thank him for this wonderful little song and all of his hard work with R.E.M. over the years. He seems that he appreciated my comments. He was a kind soul and a gentleman to me.

[@BLAB-it5un]

The IRS years of REM will always be my favorite and this song is at the top of the list. A nice twist here to have Mike take the lead. Collectively, REM might very well be the best rock song writers of all time.

[@Grendel53]

One of the best American bands. Always on top of their game.

[@dynjarren8355]

Mike Mills is such a cool guy. He wrote this song. Good tune! 👏🏻🎸😎

[@6828Lu]

Oh, sweet Jesus, I could watch this all day and into tomorrow. Is Mike Mills the cutest thing or what?

[@jamessullivan4391]

Yeah, he looks all cute and stuff but I attended an REM concert in 1986 and Mike Mills kicked the shit out of me in the parking lot.

[@BlancaLLopez]

I live in Silver Spring Maryland and today (morning) I went Back to Rockville.

[@Ivan_KV]

You gonna waste another year

[@quincygreen8786]

Stipe's singing is golden imo but Mills shines just as bright when he gets the chance.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

He wrote it

[@dariomoreno375]

Bill Rieflin R.I.P. Great Drummer

[@kevinhyland5524]

Beautiful tune from the Most Beautiful Band there's ever been.❤

[@maddie8415]

I love when Mike Mills sings.

[@carmeldoherty]

I was so lucky to have saw them many years ago amazing Band I love Michael Stipe ❤❤❤

[@pat3834]

I LOVE Mike Mills - he's so cool!!

[@stopthrm]

not really a rem fan, but this song speaks to me on a level I can't exactly explain.

[@davidscottthayer8078]

A long time ago I had a friend who told me this song had a Grateful Dead vibe. Watching this live version I can sort of see her point. Love it all these years later.

[@joycehall4866]

Wow, awesome! Even Peter's singing backups... They're having a ball. Way to guys.

[@pat3834]

For a change Peter isn't acting bored and stupid!!!

[@dantilley7361]

Mike nails it! Love Stype on the harmony - amazing!

[@elguapo342006]

He sang this on the Dan Patrick Show today. Guy is fantastic!

[@user-kh6tw9dm9n]

yup. still listening. love this song

[@SDreher58]

I went to high school with their substitute drummer Bill Reiflin . Good guy.

[@jtajr]

Effortless harmonizing between Mills and Stipe in the beginning before the others come in. Sounds good then too, but the beginning minute or so...beautiful.

[@billorr7116]

Amen Dario, Billy was a neighbor of mine here the last few years. I did not know him, but ran into him around town, and he was always a positive force with a smile on his face.

[@Bill-oc8fy]

He wrote it. Great vocals!

[@carmeldoherty]

Best band ever I was so lucky to have saw them many years ago just amazing xx ❤❤❤

[@paulamiles9559]

❤ Mikey Mills. Nostalgia...this song grabs me in my belly

[@RenatoFreitas-mm5sn]

Está música é linda demais sou apaixonado ficou incrível simplesmente maravilhosa!

[@BrianScottHarris]

This song is pure fabulousness.

[@rogerpeet7399]

I bought their first major release, Murmur after I read a Rolling Stone poll. That year the readers picked as album of the year, Thriller and the critics picked Murmur. I liked REM more.

[@cakewin]

MM did an awesome job.

[@matthewstetson711]

That was fun. Thank you R.E.M.

[@tricolore31]

Great voice

[@johnperant]

one of the best concerts I have ever attended the venue is the stadium where the first modern Olympics (1896) took place :o)

[@rodobondo]

Good upbeat song.

[@junitahahn]

Worked in Rockville, Md. short while, nope not going back.

[@patricklineberry6306]

I was in Hanover, Germany in 1999. I was sitting in a hotel, and we started hearing REM. They were playing a concert in the park, next to the hotel.

[@Gluca970]

Mike is my hero

[@MultiSweener]

Mills wrote the song and Stipe sang it originally, as per their early video and track. That was the a winner.

[@LetArtsLive]

yea great quality video i love rem!! tya tya

[@RobotWillie]

Nice quality live recording. You get what i mean.

[@georgea1985]

very cool

[@theytube3879]

Always loved the Johnny Rivers guitar outro

[@gmandersonjr]

I went to a party in Athens Ga at Stipes house with my profressor at gtech. It was awesome. I met them.

[@taylor-vl1re]

The Rickenbacker has that signature sound like the Byrds and Tom Petty.

[@revekkani]

None of my friends believes me but in 2:03 he waves at me. I had a fever for 3 days out of happiness after that.

[@sandiflow]

my dream fender bass

[@mattia2483]

RIP Bill Rieflin. Great drummer.

[@strumstrummer]

Brilliant, and with Bill Berry back then. I had all the albums up until Monster, that was the last because they just didn't feel right after he had to unfortunately leave the band. I had a tape cassette with Mike Mills singing Wendell Gee on the piano, one of my favourite songs. I must have a search now to see if it's online. Cheers. :)

[@strumstrummer]

m.kzbin.info/door/6Lh3uEKEQgyIS_cOZdD-XQ

[@strumstrummer]

Oops, it's not Bill Berry haha, sorry I was watching a different vid before this with him. Great drummer.

[@hra6]

Hard to do I live near rockville

[@emmanueludoh77]

i really wish there were more REM songs with Mike MIlls singing lead vocals

[@JackDevaney]

I've got a new cover of this song over on my channel. Everything's recorded live on camera and into the mic so it's kinda like a live gig (except for the fact that I produce the shit out if it afterwards)

[@microdosrecords]

REM can go back to Rockville though....we await you guys......I CAN'T COPE WITH REM'S DISBANDMENT AND IT'S ABOUT TO BE 2015.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

Mike Mills looks a little like John Denver here. Ha ha.

[@martyc2637]

Judging from the live videos, it seems Rem was bigger in Western Europe than stateside.

[@carmeldoherty]

Amazing song by Mike Mills ❤❤

[@seanwalsh5717]

Spoiler: She does go back to Rockville.

[@dtmcbride]

Mike looks like he was doing CrossFit around this time 💪🏼

[@jamesburton8070]

IMHO, Mills sings Rockville better than Stipe did on Reckoning. This is Mills’s song and he absolutely owns it.

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

Hardly anyone in the audience knew this song.

[@theyself]

I like Mills as a background singer, but his voice is a bit thin to do lead.

[@tammieholland8937]

Don't go to Rockdale hell no

[@MuzzikLvr]

Did Mike Mills sing lead on the record too?

[@ctwining]

Channeling Garth Algar

[@PontiacS.]

Why?

[@Bolirt866]

Don't go back to buffalo

[@woodyreed2882]

ugh god he ruins this one for me when he sings lead.

[@maxxbenzz7842]

Michael looks so awkward when he's not singing

[@thesanfordmethod1905]

Mike Mills is only good with backing vocals, he's gotta forget about the frontman position already.

[@elguapo342006]

Also can people in other countries even understand the lyrics? If a French band came in I wouldnt pay to go see.

[@demiegel]

Most people in Greece speak English at least at a very basic level and many of those are fluent especially younger ages. Nowadays it is considered standard knowledge to know English here. However sometimes we just like the vibe of foreign music and listen to it even if we dont understand the lyrics or much of them.

[@tosaeast6032]

English is universal. We are American, people take notice. And since Obama is gone, we can probably be normal again. No bowing and prostrating ourselves anymore.

[@billcook4768]

It's REM. I'm an American - from Georgia even - and I didn't understand what any of Michael's lyrics until Document.

[@ArinKambitsis]

Mills should have gotten more time singing lead, because he's really off. He lacks precision and confidence.

[@ritzy12345]

Yikes