R.E.M. 1986 - 'Pageantry' (Peter Buck & Mike Mills interview)

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[@NikFarr]

"This is a really weird time we're living in." -Peter Buck, 1986 Oh young Pete, hold onto your hat

[@kai326]

poor Peter had to live through the Reagan and the Bush administrations

[@bldallas]

Funny, I picked up on that too. My 24 year old self probably would have agreed with him then. Now at 61, and considering the shit that’s gone down over the last 7 or 8 years, I’d give anything to go back to those “weird times.”

[@dr.scanlan6112]

@@bldallasPre and post cell phone life. Among numerous other massive changes, that is obviously the biggest shift. With regard to music, it changed the way people interacted with the medium, and (in my opinion) not for the better.

[@bldallas]

@@dr.scanlan6112 I agree. We were so excited for Life’s Rich Pageant to come out, my buddies and I waited for Sound Warehouse to open. The Tuesday the LP dropped. Then that night, one of them (the guy with the best stereo) hosted a “first listen” party. We ordered in a bunch of Chinese food and enjoyed some cold ones; I think there were about 8 of us incl girlfriends. We passed the LP around for everyone to look at the artwork and read the liner notes. Then, 1 song at a time, we crank the new album. We listened intently, then after each song , the needle was lifted and we went around the room and each gave our first impressions. After that first listen, we left it on the turn table and listened front to back multiple times. It was an event. And a killer album. I can’t imagine a group of 20 something recent college grads doing the same thing, now that everyone just streams songs. Those were some good times.

[@rax816]

every generation discovers that tho when they step out into the world and then they change it to suit them...and become the thing the next generation rebels against

[@craigbendall3716]

Most likely my favourite album of all time

[@sexobscura]

Agreed - 'I Believe' is an astounding track both lyrically+musically

[@rockturtleneck]

I think Pageant and Reckoning are their best albums. Was blessed to see them on the LRP tour in New Haven, CT. Fantastic show.

[@jeffreylorien6687]

Seattle 86. Weird show but still awesome. Apparently stipe and buck were gacked to the nines.

[@cristopferfloyd8085]

Jeffrey Lorien were they off or just playing odd versions?

[@noisepuppet]

Hard to disagree, especially since the band hated the production on Fables, but I still love the material on that album. Personally, I put it up there with Reckoning and Pageant, but with an asterisk. Just an amazing run they had on IRS.

[@rockturtleneck]

@@noisepuppet Yes, completely agree. Some really great tunes on Fables, such as Maps & Legends, Good Advices and Wendell Gee

[@kai326]

@@jeffreylorien6687 never knew either of them used Hot h

[@seanwinkel8890]

This was the one that came out the Summer before I went down to Athens for college. And you couldn't pass a dorm room that wasn't playing it.

[@tunafish2521]

Pageant was my favorite REM album. Anything after Document, to me, was not so great.

[@void0094]

Amazing interview. One of my favorite bands.

[@scottpatrick8645]

Before the interview: Peter "hey Mike u wanna burn down a big ol fat one? Mike: "nah, I'll pass". Peter " we'll i'm gonna."

[@bertilknudsen]

Too bad they didn't work more with Gehman.

[@rockturtleneck]

I think I read somewhere that he turned down their offer to produce Document and regretted it.

[@whatdidoursurveysay]

@@rockturtleneck It was actually "Romance", the song that was on the _Made in Heaven_ soundtrack. Gehman recommended Scott Litt to the gang, and the rest is history.

[@seanwinkel8890]

I have to say that I vastly prefer REM before Don Gehman got his radio hooks into them. Regardless this is my fifth favorite REM album. After the first three and a half.

[@bldallas]

Love Tractor, Hindu Love Gods, Waxing Poetics…man, I forgot about those bands…pretty sure I have records from at least some of them. Plus Mitch Easter’s Let’s active. Loved those days and that music….good times.

[@shattere]

Hindu Love Gods one of my faves cuz of Warren Zevon \m/ Kinda underrated

[@jackleogolf5723]

Superb that, thanks for posting

[@Matthew-ez4ze]

Don really got Michael to clarify his lyrics because he had important things to say, and it changed REM forever.

[@rax816]

this should be remastered and added on to the next deluxe pageant album.. just like you get some interviews at the end of the legacy Byrds albums.

[@bhuvidya]

Life's Rich Pageant is where my REM experience began. Then I went backwards. Wow. Then I stayed with them thru Monster. But those first 5 albums are amazing. Great interview - thanks heaps!!!

[@jackriggan8585]

I was in NC at a tiny record store and walked in to buy Life's R.P. and the girl at the counter I paid was Faye Hunter ,bass player from Let's Active. Mitch Easter's girlfriend.Mitch produced Reckoning and Murmur.

[@markb2255]

small world ha ha. I saw this tour in Williamsburg va. when I was 15. Some drunk frat guys from William and Mary tried to snag my seats but I was rescued by this punk rock chick who totally made the frat guys move purely through her charisma. She was obviously a college student too. I was just a freshman or sophomore in high school. That's when I fell in love with punk rock girls for the first time

[@frankmarsh1159]

I've still got records I bought from Peter Buck at Wuxtry on Baxter Street in Athens.

[@rax816]

so smart even back then 🥺☺️

[@barnacles62]

When Mike Mills was young, he could have passed for Harry Potter....

[@sandrabills2634]

I remember seeing the Clique band in Texas in the late 60s. They were pretty popular at the time.

[@markb2255]

hey, Peter (21:39) you could've gotten ol' Dex hemmed up back in the 80's letting everyone know about his herb usage.

[@charlie.something]

why are we sending arms to ukraine. same dif, 37 years later. what a weird time we're living in. agreed.

[@TimEastonSongwriter]

not the same whatsoever

[@kai326]

Not nearly the same, ya walnut

[@curly_wyn]

Why are we sending arms to Russia.

[@peterzang]

You’re going to compare these two acts? You sorry bastard.

[@saharab4431]

such an amazing band