R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in early 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and vocalist Michael Stipe. Their most well-known songs are The One I Love, Everybody Hurts, It’s The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), and Losing My Religion.
Throughout the 1980s, the band worked relentlessly, releasing a record a year for seven consecutive years, from their debut EP in 1982 (Chronic Town) through 1988’s Green. They also toured constantly, playing a variety of venues, from theaters to backwoods dives. Along the way, they inspired countless bands, from jangle pop groups of the mid-’80s to alternative rock bands of the ‘90s. At the same time, the band was admired for its slow, steady rise to stardom, rare in an industry that grew to expect overnight success.
Their biggest hit, Losing My Religion, came in 1991 from their album Out of Time. The video and album won many awards including Video of the Year at the MTV Music Video Awards and Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Guitarist Peter Buck has said the band’s ‘life’ can be dividied pre- Losing my Religion and post- Losing My Religion.
Drummer Bill Berry departed the band in 1997 but Mike, Michael and Peter still tour and reord albums. Fans and critics say that their albums have not been as good since Bill’s departure but they agree that they R.E.M. is still an amazing band to watch live.
In March 2007 R.E.M. will be inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
