The members of the legendary rock group R.E.M. have announced the band is breaking up. The group just posted an announcement on its website: "To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening."

R.E.M.'s announcement comes several months after the band released its best album in more than a decade, Collapse Into Now, and nearly 30 years after its 1983 debut, Murmur.

 
MIKE MILLS


"During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest-hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'What next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.

"We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this — there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right."

MICHAEL STIPE


"A wise man once said, 'The skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave. We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.

"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way.

"We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."

PETER BUCK


"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.

"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19-year-olds trying to change the world."

Yawn.

>>The members of the legendary rock group R.E.M. have announced the band is breaking up.<<


REM was legendary?  

you ain't gotta like REM... but damn, they are IMO, an amzing band, that made beautiful music... I applaud their ability to last so long and leave when it felt right, takes balls! The new album was awesome btw...

I think it's great people like them.
I just never got the whole thing.
I prefer the other Athens GA band, the B-52's
Most will be shocked, I feel the same about Grateful Dead
Never got them either.
I get that they are talented, have had a huge impact on music.
Does nothing for me.  Never has.

How come. I swear early morning I was listening the Singles Collection (the I.R.S. years), and I was thinking about giving Automatic for the People a spin (excluding "Everybody Hurts", a song that's almost parodic). "Crazy" (not the Aerosmith ballad, of course) remains one of my favorite songs from all time. It's a cover, yes, but where can you find such a sweet and haunting melody?, recorded as a mix of country, punk and new wave.

Yes I'm drunk (or getting there) but 

I have seen them at various periods of their career...I always enjoyed them.

I am glad they are calling it quits on [i]their [/i]terms...Their last release, "Collapse Into Now" (2011) I quite enjoy and listen to often.

I liked them.....back in the 80's. I wasn't aware they were still together; I thought they broke up ages ago.

Not a huge fan. Never saw them live. But got respect for a good hard working band that had more than their share of success. Everybody Hurts is an awesome song.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPZzWYkdS6Y...........I mean it's not like we're talking about Bon Jovi or Dave Matthews or something God awful like that.

this band was a pimple on the ass of rock & roll. to support that thought, i present exhibit A:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-UzXIQ5vw

exhibit B:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKKqLl_ZEEY

if the above still leave you thinking I might be wrong, please view exhibit C:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOKMUTTDdA&feature=relmfu

if you still think i am wrong, you need to go home tonight, make love to your wife and spin exile, ffs.

i remember the days when moonie would pontificate on mini bars, popes and how REM was the coming of the antichrist. my god people...have we sunk this low??? has our hatred of bon jovi blinded us to the other pariah in our midst??

Teiz wrote on Sep 21^st, 2011 at 2:41pm:


Word to your Mother Baby.

I still don't know what to do when my penis gets hard. I discovered it while taking a shower, two or three years ago. I went to the doctor and I explained my situation. He gave me a funny look.

I hate it when my penis gets hard.

BONOISLOVE wrote on Sep 22^nd, 2011 at 9:18pm:

bono, it is a good thing that REM has already broken up. otherwise, michael stipe may have written a song about that.