R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe + So. Central Rain (Hifi Mono) [10-6-83]

[@countvond233]

It starts with a world-class drummer. Add equally bad-ass bass player. What a rhythm section!!

[@dennisyoung7984]

I can’t imagine how hard they practiced for this performance. Absolutely perfect, both songs. REM was amazing, fully formed sound right out of the gate

[@jimmybootz1277]

Very well said also very true

[@copersucar1]

agree

[@1monki]

They toured and performed live a lot during this time. And they played songs that hadn't been released, yet. So, they worked out the songs in live performances and generally knew the audience's reaction before releasing it. The other song they played that night was So. Central Rain, which was on their following album.

[@saywhatnow57]

This music owned me when I was a teenager. I don't know that 43-year-old me would have appreciation for this song if I'd not first appreciated it with my 14-year-old ears.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Et tu? "Owned me as a teenager" I wish I'd written that.

[@JAWS-7675]

​@@mattgilbert7347 huh? What does that mean?

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@JAWS-7675 "Et tu" means "And you too?" I suppose it's a bit old-fashioned now, but people used to say "et tu?" and "et tu, Brutus?", which comes from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" when someone says something that they themselves think, believe, or wish they'd said. It's a kind of ironic expression of sadness and recognition. The original context in the play is a bit different but expressions evolve and, eventually, go extinct. Perhaps it's time to retire this one. I hope that explains it ok.

[@SatansSimgma]

Did things get better after you came out?

[@rubberbiscuit99]

The shyest front man of all time. Love this band so much since I heard the first note from them.

[@HugoFDiaz]

I love to see them have a lot of fun playing this song!!! I saw this vid 100 times and I don’t tire

[@CynthiaAllenStrawberry]

Saw them 8/18/83 at Shea Stadium!

[@Tsip89]

This was fantastic. Thanks!

[@dspf68]

Liked them. Then they played So. Central Rain live on Dave. Game changer, my favorite band ever!

[@JayKim-pu7ul]

One of the greatest ever!

[@guystrempack]

seeing them in 83 was fire 🔥

[@NoOneandEveryone]

How can someone explain REM... You just can't, they are forever forward and timeless - like thought!

[@Sal.Manila]

I can’t decide whose playing was the tightest-Mills’, Buck’s or Berry’s. Truthfully, all four guys were on point; a very sold sound for live TV. I also liked how Letterman seemed to treat them well. But when he asked about the other notable talent emerging from Athens, nobody from REM was willing to mention the B-52’s. I felt an awkward sense of unspoken contempt, or, perhaps a rivalry.

[@wsjustice]

All I could think about was how Letterman respected Michael Stipe's resistance to being in the spotlight. Dude was stealthy back there.

[@dspf68]

Dave mentioned the B-52's first

[@ncsupi]

I had to watch the vocal dynamics in and away from the mic to see if it matched the track (always the quickest tell, even with compression), and it definitely is legit. I almost doubted it because of how good they sounded for live tv in 1983, both in the mix and the performance. Those guys were (are) pros.

[@ncsupi]

I would have been scandalized to find they had used canned music, but it just sounded that good.

[@TheMollyjustin]

You can tell they were proud of this song...every reason to be so. The writing, lyrics...each member molded into this song perfectly. They knew they reached that magicical spot. (Radiofree Europe).

[@PaulMikna]

Rickenbacker heaven!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Into a Fender, no less. I always think Rick+Vox was his sound, but he used many amps on the albums.

[@JR-zv6qm]

I'm a Fender guy, have a P & J, but always wanted a Rickie. But realistically, I don't need one. I can get that Rickie growl from my Jazz bass. But damn, they're gorgeous instruments. People notice you when you're playing one.

[@steveroy1]

That hum during the interview between songs is the unmistakable sound of a Ric at idle. I have a '73 just like that one and it isn't quiet.

[@SatansSimgma]

Rich kids.

[@patches6309]

I memba watching this performance. It's all we talked about in high school how cool they sounded! They blew up huge after this great performance.

[@PaulMikna]

Just amazing how full their sound is with such a stripped down set up - 1 amp each!

[@jkrycz]

The Los Angeles Times was correct, that was one of the best releases of 1983.

[@bodbn]

now they can't anything right

[@philpaule472]

40 years ago today !!!

[@NelsonStJames]

I didn’t realize until rewatching this that R.E.M. had that same sense of witty self-aware humor that made the Beatles so likable.

[@KarenMcardle-z4w]

Best vocalist ever

[@tedsanborn1824]

A group of us saw them perform the next day at the Ontario theater in DC. They played equally as well across a long set.

[@Ophicinepublicidade]

AWESOME!

[@jaysmith3095]

One guitar flub at 7:18….amazing though. A brand new, untitled song on their national debut to their target audience. Guts!

[@grungetea]

In 1993 Eddie Vedder looked like Michael Stipe in 1983

[@garau2]

Love intro..

[@mattgilbert7347]

Berry & Mills (the latter being, apparently, 12 years old at the time) were in the pocket and then some

[@lindabakmaz81]

Mills will never look his age--even though he's grey now.

[@williamoleary1410]

Dave should have said, "What if a band comes out with an album and sells it for $4.99, you guys are finished".

[@DukeJon1969]

Amazing set. I wonder what happened to them? 😅

[@dspf68]

Hall of Fame!!!!

[@tommanderfeld572]

Buck and Mills exude coolness in this.

[@Alfie198]

Love REM and Michael Stipe was so attractive.

[@christopher9196]

The sound was great that night

[@jimgeary]

Mills pimpin the English Beat!

[@matthewwischmann9240]

An old girlfriend suggested rEM stood for Radio Free Europe Music!! Maybe...??

[@davidhalprin9997]

I mean this is the syart of one of the biggest American rockk bands.

[@pagrampagram]

I wonder if the boys got to meet Julia Child?

[@rossrossa7596]

Slow Musik Projekt

[@matthewwischmann9240]

ZEPPELIN THE Beatles Stones rEm my favorite bands!!!

[@kevinlakeman5043]

Loved this when I saw it live as a 15 yr. old and still love it now. Buck was such a spazz, but I really like his guitar style. And Mills was not only a terrific bassist but also a very good harmony singer. Letterman couldn't have been more gracious and respectful, but still Stipe had to be....Stipe at the time, which meant contrarian arrogant guy too cool to talk to the host. He's still a dick about being on the show.

[@Selena_H.]

I saw Michael refuse to name the show prior to playing "So. Central Rain" during the Austin show that's shared here on KZbin (Maybe Austin City Limits, I'm not sure). Why are you saying Peter is a "spazz"? (ugly word, to any one who has lived in Australia, anyways off topic....). Genuinely curious, is he unfriendly in person, and that's why you called him that? Edit: Here's the link to "South Central Rain" : kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5ClfJp-hrKfmrssi=qitZFdL5FuaB-ALY. I love the way Michael doesn't mention David Letterman❣️ Ha ha ha 🤣🤣🤣

[@jonathanlee8930]

It was agreed beforehand that Letterman would only speak to one member of the band, which was Buck. He obviously chose to speak to Mills as well but none of this had to do with any of the reasons you cite.

[@steveroy1]

In interviews his band mates have said Stipe was incredibly shy. It was explained to Letterman and he left him alone. No disrespect.