Vintage Video Watch R.E.M. 'Chronic Town'

[@RogerPeet]

In 1982, I was in the US Army stationed in Louisiana and I got Rolling Stone mag. They had a popular and critics poll. 'Thriller' was best album for the pop people and the critics picked REMs first album, 'Murmur'. That same day, I went out and bought the cassette and from then on, I've loved R.E.M.

[@KimTHRC]

West of the fields❤❤❤❤

[@sexobscura]

*Such a brilliantly played and evocative song*

[@drago6769]

Bill Berry is probably the most underappreciated member of the band, his drumming really helps lay a great foundation/springboard for each song

[@dougsmith7083]

They lost their heart and soul when Bill left. It was never the same without him

[@valdrag909]

Always thought so, he had such a unique style.

[@void0094]

He plays a bit like the drummer from Pylon

[@sexobscura]

*With ineffable eyebrows to boot*

[@marybethtruman]

I saw this tour 11/23/82..The Chateau, Albany, NY...they changed my life. His eyes are so blue.

[@mrapp8918]

Legends of My Youth. 💪🎸🔥

[@dougsmith7083]

I bought the Chronic Town ep in November 1983. I purchased Murmur on October 7th 1983 (day after the Letterman performance) but, being in Vancouver, had to order Chronic Town as an import. I may even prefer CT over Murmur. The ep's songs played so well as live tunes...such great arrangements and, Mike's background vocals were much more prominent and impactful on the overall dynamic of the songs...Stipe was, quite possibly, still shy/lacking confidence in his ability and at performing live...perhaps Mike's greater vocal presence was as much a safety net as a musical device...

[@cindyewyatt]

Damn. This is so good.

[@pwilson962]

I get this song stuck in my head and drive everyone around me crazy - lol!

[@joycehall4866]

Suspicion yourself....my # 1 favorite

[@Bulgeofpersuasion]

This song pulled me out of my shell after being up on amphetamines for a week. I was sitting on the floor in my apartment above an old gas station garage (it's now the Tibetan Buddhist temple west) in the Richmond annex when it happened. My walls fell away and loving disembodied voices said my name in turn all around me. Wellwishers beyond the veil.

[@Zepster77]

Which song

[@flagemdown66]

REM in the trenches, paying their dues. They made it by having an undying work ethic and a clear plan of forward advancement. From the start they had a good team of management and lawyers. But it was mainly hard work and tons of it that made them so successful. Building from the ground up with grueling touring and resulting word of mouth reaction to those wonderful live shows. They were magical and sincere.

[@Zepster77]

Also sharing all the songwriting credits. The Smith’s reputation sullied forever by the other two’s treatment of Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. So what if they didn’t contribute to the songwriting - the Smiths would not have been HALF the band they were without those two. So yeah. U2 was also the same. All members shared songwriting royalties equally.

[@HOPEat]

Carnival of Sorts is my all time fave. ☮️🍻

[@robertk2007]

Love bands before the limos... So to speak

[@b0tterman]

I saw this tour in Poughkeepsie's "The Chance" in '82. The crowd heckled Stipe for "ripping off' Jim Morrison's style. they screamed "MORRISON!' like an insult. I thought "huh" well that's bullshit but they were so new and original that I figured that's they audience's reference and they thought it was all a rip off. But it wasn't. Great show.

[@jimmackay1266]

Pedro Holsapple

[@zepps88]

I love how ridiculous Michael behaves while performing A Million

[@Brando64]

Obrigado Alexandre, that was rough around the edges, but _very interesting!_

[@hzv7242]

I first heard them in Fall 1982 through a flexidisc that came in a magazine called Trouser Press. Wolves, Lower was the song with Lords Of The New Church On the other side. I remember playing it constantly and thinking "Yeah...they're gonna be huge." Next week, they were all over college radio with Carnival Of Sorts. Absolutely positively loved everything they did until they got to Document in 1987 and left I.R.S. Records...then they pretty much lost me save a song here and there I like the early REM much better.

[@scottbartlett4853]

I remember I think hearing Radio Free or Talk About The Passion and loving this for me weird new music. I would have been in Jr High Schl at the time. Back then I was listening to college radio. I stuck with them a bit longer than you as I loved Document and Green. After that I'm with you, they peaked in popularity but at that point it was only a song here or there that hooked me.

[@morgancatherwood5665]

Mills haircuts from back then were the best

[@dougroling7303]

Is Michael the indie Elvis?🎉

[@simonl1785]

Got this ep on cassette somewhere

[@Quis_Ut_Deus_369]

What is the name of that second song? I don't recall it being on any of their albums.

[@RyanMostumpy]

laughing off of murmur

[@lauraedwards442]

Just as he begins singing he, says “It’s called ‘Laughing’.

[@andrewburgess6417]

They were great then

[@annaleonardi6299]

Greeting from Arkasas REM inspired fellow Georgians THE BLACK CROWES Rich Robinson in paticular they are from Maretta

[@ClueSign]

House in order.

[@admiralhowdy]

Who's the 5th member...?

[@jonathanlee8930]

Peter Holsapple (who opened the show), sits in on "Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars)". Mitch Easter joins them on "Romance", "Sitting Still" and "1,000,000". Much of this info can be found via the R.E.M. Timeline website. They also have a page on Facebook.

[@coygobble7568]

the fifth beatle... Chris Christie

[@cindyewyatt]

Mitch Easter’s band was Let’s Active. MS mentioned it at the very beginning of this vid.

[@jeffkaufman9875]

@Gobbler Down boy, DOWN!…

[@jorel80]

who is the additional guitarist to the right of Mike Mills during 1,000,000 ? Buck is on the left of Stipe. Who's the other guy?

[@conshea7382]

I believe its Mitch Easter

[@johnniefairchild2220]

It's Peter Holsapple who opened and Mitch Easter towards the end

[@KangsyMcLovin]

how are there so few views on an REM video?

[@jonathanlee8930]

There is more than one upload of this concert on KZbin. This was uploaded as recently as 2012, I imagine some of the older uploads have more views.

[@drago6769]

and probably because a lot of REM "fans" only like/know the popular stuff im guessing that's a big reason why too

[@Zepster77]

Another time another place / how soon they forget