R.E.M. began as a university band and rapidly grew right into a supergroup, taking indie rock to the highest of the pop charts with an distinctive catalog of 15 studio albums. On Thursday, the band can be acknowledged for its achievements by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The iconic group – that includes frontman Michael Stipe on vocals, Peter Buck on guitar, Mike Mills on bass and Bill Berry on drums – determined to half methods in 2011 after a decades-long run.
In a uncommon interview, the group talked about how they fashioned, discovered their sound and what led to their breakup.
Group reunites for uncommon interview
For the primary time in almost 30 years, the 4 unique members of R.E.M. sat down collectively for an interview with “CBS Mornings.”
“You know, we lived or died on the energy of our songs. So it is a enormous honor,” Buck stated of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside fellow 2024 inductees Hillary Lindsey, Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley, Dean Pitchford and Steely Dan. Country music star Cindy Walker was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this yr.
“It is the toughest factor that we do. And it is the factor that we have labored on probably the most from the very starting,” Mills added.
The band fashioned on the University of Georgia in Athens. At the start of their profession, Berry stated they wrote songs as quick as they may “simply to place meals on the desk.”
Finding their sound
But The quartet rapidly discovered their sound. Most of their writing was accomplished inside the identical rehearsal house in Athens.
“It felt like kismet to me. When it occurred, it felt proper,” Stipe stated.
They confirmed up within the studio each afternoon with a listing of concepts and to see if it impressed any band members. Mills, Buck and Berry would write the music after which depart the lyrics to Stipe, who Mills referred to as among the finest “melodists” on the planet.
When requested concerning the strain of songwriting from labels ready for the following launch, Stipe joked that Buck was all the time ready for R.E.M.’s subsequent album.
“Somebody’s obtained to drive the practice, and we have been all more than pleased to have Peter be form of our motivator,” Mills stated.
“More than joyful” will not be the phrase I’d use,” Buck stated.
“Looking again,” Stipe stated with fun. “There’s a physique of labor that would not be there had you not been pushing us as onerous as you probably did.
Some songs got here simply – like “Losing My Religion.”
Buck jokes that he nonetheless would not play mandolin and Stipe cannot recall the inspiration behind the lyrics, although he does bear in mind the lyrics to the refrain have been initially was written as “That’s me within the kitchen – not the highlight.”
Stipe stated he loves the music, however the group by no means imagined it could be a success. Mills stated it ought to by no means have been one.
“It’s like a bumblebee. They should not have the ability to fly. That music should not have been a success,” he added.
R.E.M.’s amicable breakup
In 1995, Berry suffered a double mind aneurysm on stage in Switzerland. He recovered however left the band two years later. R.E.M. carried on, however by no means fairly recovered its equilibrium earlier than disbanding in 2011.
After Berry’s departure, Buck admitted the band struggled to agree on issues musically – from the sort of music, tips on how to report it and whether or not to go on tour, amongst different selections.
“We may barely agree on the place to go to dinner. And now, we will simply agree on the place to go to dinner,” Buck stated.
But the band members are thrilled to reconnect to have a good time a significant achievement.
“We’re additionally right here to inform the story, and we’re sitting on the similar desk along with deep admiration and … lifelong friendship,” Stipe stated. “Lots of people that do that cannot declare that.”
Ultimately, the bandmates stated they by no means had any second ideas about strolling away once they did – everybody however Berry, that’s.
“That was a bizarre time for me,” he defined. “And I made it bizarre for these guys, too.”
But his bandmates stated they revered his determination. Berry defined that his mind surgical procedure and restoration lowered his vitality stage and that he did not have the identical drive he as soon as did. So, he determined to stroll away, which he did not remorse till later in life.
“I believe we stop on the proper time. This is a very good place to complete, – nice tour, nice album, go dwelling,” Buck stated.
Though they’re reuniting to have a good time their illustrious catalog, do not anticipate an R.E.M. reunion tour. When requested what it could take to get the band again collectively one final time, Mills joked “a comet.” His band members agreed there was nothing that might make them rethink their determination.
“It’d by no means be nearly as good,” Buck stated.
