R.E.M. - “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” (LIVE @ Cologne, Germany 2001)

A rockin’ live version of the track from R.E.M.’s 2001 free concert in Cologne, Germany, which was filmed for broadcast. This performance and a lot more are featured on the REMTV 6 DVD box set. Full details on the release at www.REMHQ.com

[@bloodyscalp94]

Mike Mills absolutely killing that bass tone! Amazing!!

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Yes! It's too low in the mix in the studio version for my taste. It's too easily masked by the heavy guitar distortion, it needed to be louder.

[@mindovermatter6664]

Yeeeeeeeeeees♥️

[@christopherborum6551]

​@@mattyward1979Have you seen the clip of just the two of them doing Nightswimming on the Jools Holland show?

[@junkyarddog303]

Proper band, proper venue, proper song. Fantastic 🔥

[@peterzang]

Proper word!

[@homoerectus6953]

i so miss this band.

[@ericshaw760]

What a stunning performance.

[@James_Waltz]

Mike Mills. Probably one of the best musicians alive to this day.

[@DE_O.J.]

Best concert ever in the best location ever, Cologne my beautiful city ❤

[@avenueb]

better than Dusseldorf, that I will give you

[@leokimvideo]

one of the all time great rock songs..killer guitar and vocals

[@REMstar11]

leokimvideo absolutely!

[@SombraPiloto]

Bass line is pretty damn cool too!!!

[@richardburchett]

leokimvideo And Bass!!!!

[@runreilly]

That bassist gives REM such a distinct sound. His high backing vocals. When I was a kid in the 90s I thought there was a girl in the band.

[@Robinssoncravents]

Sure! and surely in my top 5 R.E.M. Favorites songs

[@RetroHabit82]

Mike Mills harmonies are untouchable

[@MrCoco60]

Yes very good !!

[@rightcoast7049]

Yupp!! This song wouldn't be the same with out his vocals or bass line!

[@andlidearmadta9680]

As are his shirts

[@michaelconvery8871]

Not bad for two. I’d say the Eagles as five parts are much better. The Beatles were better too.

[@shawnkavanagh2951]

@@michaelconvery8871 Beach Boys

[@WilliamYoder72]

That bass is sooooo good.

[@JayZed-tl5bc]

Fantastic!! This song blew me away when “Monster” was released decades ago…and it still makes me want to jump around like I’m 22 again!

[@bigbluegpr]

The bass line has a great groove to it!

[@ricardojmestre]

That's the great Mike Mills on bass :)

[@davidkierzkowski]

Agree

[@asphaltcowboy7567]

He's a wicked bass player.....

[@listeningtojets]

"You said that irony was the shackles of youth" DAMN that's a good line........

[@swalt13]

REM lyrics were always full of good/poignant/thought provoking lines. Quoted them for my senior quote in my high school yearbook.

[@dawnd5761]

Omg.. aint it!!... so totally wish I was there and just totally realized I have been making up My Own lyrics for the last 30 years! I knew it had something to do with the TV reporter I didn't know the whole story and a sad story it is

[@sexobscura]

@@dawnd5761 yes, the REM story is *very* sad indeed

[@darinwestcott9041]

I prefer "withdraw in disgust isn't the same as apathy"

[@DerekCullenOutdoors]

And there was me all these years singing “you said that Arnie put the shackles on you” 😂

[@markhamer4168]

You gotta love Peter Buck. None of the over long , bombastic solos of other guitarists just rock solid riffing!!

[@ricardojmestre]

Totally. He works for the song.

[@conorsmith8551]

He's great

[@paulcarter7352]

Isn't he playing rhythm on the solo?

[@paulcarter7352]

Sorry-take that back!

[@jannepyykko6325]

Greetiings from Finland!

[@busterellis7188]

Without a doubt, my favorite REM song..

[@dereka3341]

R.E.M. was the soundtrack for my college days!

[@EmmanuelleLunada2010]

Gotta love Michael's smile at the end of the song. Anyway, great performance of a great band.

[@annb1]

Please REM for the good of everything in the world...reunite for even one show!!!!

[@vickytaylor9604]

My 2023 obession..R.E.M. Always loved them..My sadness..never saw them live.

[@aussiej2973]

i did mate, the Monster tour mid 90s it was very raw and awesome

[@daviddiamond1128]

monster is the heaviest REM album. 1994 was a great year for music. I remember REM in college early 80's. Miss them.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Both Dookie and Smash were released in 1994 as well! Too bad I was wasting that part of my life in school. "Irony is the shackles of youth." Still good stuff

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Michael Stipes genius of modern music

[@SombraPiloto]

Love Mike Mills bass line and killer tone!

[@parkandharbourcomedy]

My favourite bassist

[@ricardojmestre]

He has such a distinctive style

[@theoppiesghost]

the boys from Athens, Georgia rock!!! Mike Mills just kills on this song. great musician

[@jackharper82]

I was there, first row... 22 years and I can still remember it like yesterday. Fantastic show and what an insane location in front of the majestic cathedral. And the whole thing was entrance free! They closed it after roughly 20.000 people showed up. Opening Act was Seeed, incredible show as well!

[@EnzoFerenczyo]

So German, lol. Great people, a much maligned, and deprecated people. I am Hungarian and German, so I'm a bit of a rebel, a musician and also an engineer, a wicked combo. My grandfather was a pianist in the Berlin Harmonic Orchestra, so I get a bit of his genes I guess, I've played guitar since I was 12, that's why I connect to this.

[@markfancher5676]

Is so great to see people that know rock and roll when they hear it

[@jackharper82]

What a helpful and important comment to my genuine feeling of happiness remembering this special day. Thank you, you brought us all closer together.@@EnzoFerenczyo

[@jackharper82]

These are the moments your mind will always go back to. Rock on!@@markfancher5676

[@EnzoFerenczyo]

@@jackharper82 Is that sarcasm? If so, well done, if not my BAD

[@Crime1912]

Great gig in front of the "Kölner Dom" and I was there...yeah!

[@fedhawley9028]

Frank Pickardt lucky you to have been there

[@fabianschneider1964]

So was I :-) Probably the best concert I have attended. First nice day in early summer, free REM concert and (for whatever reason) right in front of the stage. Wonderful memories...

[@rich13k81]

This was one of the first concerts I ever attended in my youth :)

[@studiomwg]

Me too! Drove from Lausanne just for this. Amazing experience! I can’t believe that this is almost 20 years ago. Wish the video of the entire concert was available in good quality. I want to look for me and my friend in the audience.

[@graham1745]

Love Cologne. Beautiful city, great people, excellent ice hockey team. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏒🇩🇪

[@amishgallagher]

Ya Know, it's very sad. I will never get the chance to see them Live. LONG LIVE R.E.M

[@paulconrad7649]

God I love the addition of the keyboards to this song. Fills it up incredibly. I wish every top band had keyboards. Amazing!

[@petergreen2552]

Another band I'll always regret never seeing live.

[@seanoconnor2531]

i did at two very different times in their career, one early and one late. you didn't miss much as they never had a great stage personality. the first time was fun because i was in a tribal youth faze and felt these were important bands i was following (you know what i mean?). the later show was bland, as the songs were not extended nor jammed out nor do i think they were able to . they stopped at the right time.

[@stevenewman100]

That's too bad. I saw them live 11 times and they were excellent. They were great to the end--or near the end. Their 2008 Accelerate show (at the United Center) was the second-best concert of the bunch.

[@janvermin4729]

I am so lucky that I have seen them at Torhout Werchter in 86 and in Utrecht 89

[@griffin812]

@@janvermin4729 Me too, the Green tour '89 right before high school graduation for me.

[@jutahbagels5805]

I saw their first four tours of the US. Really special band.

[@peterselles590]

first show i ever saw live, 23 shows followed this one

[@rightcoast7049]

My absolute favorite bass line of all time!

[@devilsoffspring5519]

It's definitely a good one! A mile above the usual basic root-pounding shit. Mike Mills was mighty good ;)

[@ricardojmestre]

Mike Mills is super inventive. Great bass player

[@gsmith207]

Love Joey’s drumming on this! He’s so solid. Love that kit too! So simple but sounds HUGE!

[@johnaccardi6448]

Crispier than K.F.C.

[@spiderreed350]

Very Basic.he's right on point for sure.

[@wilfriedzonderman3168]

The drummer make's the groove not the size of the kit.

[@prestoncrewnarrowboaters8619]

Real drummers and bass players are the engine of the the band

[@JohnBarnesmusic]

Mike Mills is so fing great!! Love these guys, but he’s always stood out 4 me.

[@simonquarterman2318]

Takes a special soul to write stuff like this.

[@DavidTransformer]

Instantly recognisable the minute that first chord strikes. Killer guitar and cracking song

[@marioklesczewski2270]

this is a fantastic song, and people in Cologne are a fantastic public

[@fabiogreen8377]

Love R.E.M. one of my top 5 favorite bands.

[@jojocarter1622]

You said I love 💕 you was the shackles of you

[@manjufrodo]

What a performance! The drummer is off the hook!

[@taekwanlew]

Bill Rieflin, he was great.. He Died not long after this. Was very ill for a while

[@manjufrodo]

@@taekwanlew I believe that's Joey Waronker on drums in the video.

[@janvermin4729]

What a power, what a performance , what a charisma!

[@marklavine5225]

In 2002 I took my 14 year old daughter to see R.E.M. at MSG in NYC. She had previously seen Van, Dylan & CSNY. By the end of the show Michael had his shirt off and was singing lying down. Great show. When it ended she gave me a look that said: "That was a fuckin' concert!". She was right.

[@lewis9702]

You're a cool Dad!!!

[@searing7549]

2003

[@lauraobrien2047]

Please bring back this music...good songs/artists are few and far between these days

[@jeniferpavek1773]

I’m old, grew up in 70’s, I admit I’ve gone through country music, disco …. I didn’t even know who these guys when they were popular.. but I do love these guys, snow patrol, Keene etc..

[@philjones8609]

How is it freakin possible that 22 people actually gave this a thumbs down?? This is as good as rock n roll gets, in the perfect setting, with some wonderful, beautiful people enjoying themselves!! Just outstanding!!

[@busaman5261]

I can't dance, but this jam makes me move. I love Michael Stipe and REM.

[@mickfunny4185]

busaman5261 ok you know stipe is part or R.E.M. tho

[@lenapter3272]

Make that 23. Please see my post,

[@101Volts]

Believe it or not, your personal preference doesn't necessarily apply to everyone out of over 7 billion people on the whole planet. I enjoy R.E.M. a bit but suppose I were someone who didn't and was trying to enjoy it but for whatever reason or "reasons" it just wasn't working. This is my situation with Stevie Ray Vaughan right now; I admit he was technically talented and I think it's nice seeing the crowd just sitting there, enjoying the concert. I still would like to know how I can appreciate his songs when I considered his music to be so predictable and boring. Help.

[@scootar097]

WGAF...REM baby!

[@nebraskahusker247]

Was lucky enough to be a teen at the very beginning of this band and had all their albums. Their music was life changing throughout the years.

[@bloffs3352]

For me too.

[@eljono1]

Right beside that huge church. what an awesome venue!

[@paulelliott3220]

Wonderful in every way you cam imagine Performance, music, artist, playing - R.E.M., and damn brilliant

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

I had the pleasure of seeing them in Buffalo, NY, and this was the song which opened up their show.

[@joaquingibanel5976]

i never understood the frequency and still love it

[@SandraRuz-fh5ip]

me neither 😍 no need to

[@woodypernell416]

@@SandraRuz-fh5ip A bit of a mystery but the news guy Dan Rather was followed by two guys on the street in New York, one kept asking him "Kenneth, what's the frequency?" they then assaulted him. They mistook him for another guy who apparently knew the freq. The story goes much deeper, you can find info online but seems there was another tech guy that had stumbled upon a radio freq (the two who assaulted Rather apparently mistook him for the tech guy) that could zero in on Russian communications. The song was actually written by another band and REM picked it up and added it to the Monster LP. The song title was changed to What's The Frequency, Kenneth. The whole thing is very strange and too much to get into here but worth checking out.

[@GM_-]

"Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy." I've got to use that line sometime.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

I've lost track of the number of times I've used it in the past, usually while refusing weekend overtime :)

[@GetOnTheFloor82]

One of my top 5 all time songs. Ever. Absolutely rocking tune! Epic!

[@eagan79]

Love the upbeat vibe of this song! Good drumming too!

[@amberbuck3043]

Lots of great memories! Especially of this unique performance back in 2001! Wow, what a fantastic show this was! And me waiting for it for hours next to the dome.

[@markusruttgers1467]

The first show where i see me and my friends in front of the stage. Juhuuuuu

[@simonritchie9393]

That was Fantastic!. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@bichettevirgino6664]

D'accord avec vous ils sont fantastiques 'uniques LOVE 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@anthonydavies8459]

Amazing song , amazing band !

[@maryl730]

One band I never saw live and could have. This song rules

[@ronaldtant]

Great guitar sound ,great lyrics,just a great ,great rock song.

[@vidarlarsen748]

Fantastic Sound. Fantastic Song!

[@seandeltano3037]

Just killin it...f*ckin unreal live band

[@fideauone3416]

Sounds good or better live than recorded. That's a real rock band.

[@danielishere734]

fideau one I saw them live mid 90s. this song sounded the best live. Man on the Moon was crowd fav though.

[@chokkan7]

I still remember seeing them when they were on tour for their second album; it was in a small (2000 seat) venue in southern IL. I'd liked Murmur, but didn't expect them to have a great deal of depth at that point, but they amazed everyone that night by playing their entire catalog (at the time), as well as a good half-dozen VU chestnuts. The band, and everyone else there was exhausted by the last encore; still one of the best shows ever for me...

[@dixieh8345]

That's a fact!

[@edwardbrook2029]

I like the slower version better.

[@8kicke]

A real rock band yes, but not agree with the first!

[@andrew80s]

Absolutely marvelous!

[@MattiaCavalloBr]

I was surprised when i read "2011“... Yeah it's only 2001.. But what the hell it's r.e.m. let's rock together!

[@Pewtooyou]

I've always said that REM was definitely the best lower energy shows I've ever been too...They were so good!

[@dccanes11]

What a band.

[@jessmoore7269]

Fantastic song. Thank you R.E.M.

[@benjaminmyles5886]

Awesome live performance

[@janvermin4729]

I' ve seen them in 87 in Utrecht. But my god I wish I would had been here!

[@bogsy3407]

I listened to this song almost every single day and I never get tired of it. I love this one, well I love R.E.M. !!! :)

[@brian2546]

Flawless drummer

[@philswift5056]

So good... one of my favourites from the Monster album. Got to see them live at Western Springs, Auckland, NZ in the 90s.

[@zeffie100]

Great song, one of my favourites

[@bichettevirgino6664]

Merveilleux Mike je l'écoute en boucle sa voie est magique j'adore 🎸🎸🎸🥰🥰🥰

[@Allen1029]

Absolutely iconic.

[@stephenbuffery180]

The energy coming out of this brilliant

[@mikedavis1084]

The first experience I had with REM was,about 1984 when I dropped some cid at my house,with folks out of town.Pretty persuasion video blew me away!!

[@casodreyfuszola]

Thanks for sharing this awesome song.

[@philomena_def-not-malcolm]

I changed the speed to 0.25 to look for my friends and me in the crowd. I totally destroyed the audio and can't stop laughing now. What a beautiful hot day that was. Thanks REM!

[@3340steve]

That is brilliant.

[@LyricalDJ]

Music of my life (or so it feels). Thank you, R.E.M.!

[@mrniceshoes2118]

This was a free concert too!!! Found out like on hour before !!

[@excarman]

This video by far has the best audio quality, that dose this song justice, its my favorite R.E.M song

[@joshuanewburger]

good call

[@p3drinha]

epic shit. this is what rock music is all about.

[@moz7738]

fuck yeah

[@simonquarterman2318]

Beautiful, powerful. We have to protect this. Mills is so brilliant in all of this.

[@neoneherefrom5836]

Protect this? lol

[@simonquarterman2318]

Big free gig in a major city centre. Not allowed in the UK so if if you get it, protect it.

[@neoneherefrom5836]

free concerts are illegal in the UK?

[@simonquarterman2318]

Not illegal but stopping traffic in a city centre? Not likely under the regime we have.

[@paradoxward2533]

a band with many great songs...., this is my all time favorite and a killer performance......

[@Gabriel-fj2es]

Great tones!

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Love the way Mikey Stipe starts the lyric with a bit of a yelp. That shit's hilarious! It's so great that this kinda thing was recorded, so we can indulge for years without having to be there :)

[@rstump3293]

Omg if I had half the talent of these guys! Was lucky enough to see them live 3x

[@ppesco69]

Buck Stipe and Mills kicking ass,... LIVE!! 👍

[@antoin97]

you rock guys !! 😃😃😎

[@detwins77]

what a bass line.....I know everything in this song is amazing, but in this video the bass is outstanding

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Yeah it is. Glad others are noticing.

[@christophers5510]

*best version here*

[@ElSupremo5]

Mike Mills has an amazing voice

[@snorgisborg2]

Woah. This venue looks amazing

[@gabrielorpi4698]

Soy feliz cuando los escucho...viva r.e.m.!!!

[@davidmcpherson1]

God thats so good

[@phnigra111]

That mix is on point!! Everything sounds so clean and tight.. especially that rhythm section 🤘🏼

[@01sapphireGTS]

I have never attended an R.E.M. concert, but it looks like it would be a great live show.

[@tzimmer38]

Man do I miss this band!! The world is simply a better place because of R.E.M.!!

[@corinnawilliams3744]

Truly a life moving event. RIP Kenneth AFD!

[@Allen1029]

What truly splendid energy.

[@simonharris147]

this is the bench mark that all live bands should aim for ,total r and r

[@lejoe48]

I want More!!!