From their official website - 21st Sep 2011;

 

"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.

 

In their own words: The guys share their thoughts on why now.

 

MIKE

 

"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

 

"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

 

"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."

 

I thought they'd be the sort of band that would go on and on but this was probably a wise decision, musically and popularity wise, it's all gone a bit downhill in the last few years...

I was initially quite saddened by the news, but then I realised I couldn't remember the last time they actually managed to come out with anything approaching the classics they were pumping out 20 years ago. They must have realised the same.

Well put, Shoat

 

Although Collapse Into Now is their best since Reveal (2001)

 

Listening to 'At My Most Beautiful'... What are your personal faves?

From their official website - 21st Sep 2011;

I thought they'd be the sort of band that would go on and on but this was probably a wise decision, musically and popularity wise, it's all gone a bit downhill in the last few years...

Actually I thought Accelerate (released 2008) was one of their best albums ever and well if you're talking popularity then they could just put out an album and it'll be #1 here and they could play where they like basically!

 

They're the kind of old band who you'd never look at as being 'old' because they still had it (imo anyway but Collapse Into Now wasn't THAT great though) if you know what I mean.

Sad, but their last great album for me was Reveal back 10 years ago so it is better to draw a line under things before they go really downhill.

 

31 years though!

It's the end of the world as we know it. And I feel fine.

I think REM will never really get another big, classic hit or indeed another huge album, so I guess the split is for the best really, they already have quite the legacy!

Edited September 21, 201113 yr by C.W

A sad bit of news.... for fans of solid, honest to goodness musicianship and songwriting. The exact reason they're just not that popular any more (and why this thread has such shamefully few replies).

 

I agree that Reveal was their last truly excellent piece of work, but their 80s output was never beaten in my eyes. Its a shame Joe Public only remember bands like REM for the 'big hits' because their biggest hits, minus Losing My Religion, always seemed to be their weakest songs (I can't forgive Shiny Happy People). Just as I could never forgive their consistently ugly artwork.

 

Hard to pick just one favourite I think....

I haven't REALLY liked anything of theirs since the era they released 'Daysleeper', 'Lotus, 'At My Most Beautiful', 'The Great Beyond' etc, I despised 'Imitation Of Life' and since then they've released maybe a few acceptable songs.

 

It's the end of an era though, 31 years! :o

A sad bit of news.... for fans of solid, honest to goodness musicianship and songwriting. The exact reason they're just not that popular any more (and why this thread has such shamefully few replies).

 

I agree that Reveal was their last truly excellent piece of work, but their 80s output was never beaten in my eyes. Its a shame Joe Public only remember bands like REM for the 'big hits' because their biggest hits, minus Losing My Religion, always seemed to be their weakest songs (I can't forgive Shiny Happy People). Just as I could never forgive their consistently ugly artwork.

 

Well, for me, it's just that they've not really done anything all that musically significant after "Monster", and I always preferred the early albums anyway - Murmer, Document, Green and Life's Rich Pageant... I never really rated "Reveal" all that much and they just slid into a rather dull, boring "comfort" zone... TBH, I kind of wish Radiohead would split up too, because they've become an absolute bloody chore as well....

 

 

 

I blame Shiny Happy People. It was all going so well until then. Despite the occasional great moment (Automatic For The People, couple of tracks of Monster and Accelerate) it's been a solid downward slope since then. Agree with Grimly. Their 80s outpu remains pure class, the 90s were patchy and the 00s onwards best left largely forgotten. I'm going to play Green, Document and Life's Rich Pageant to see them off in the way I'll always want to remember them.

 

Oh and if Radiohead and the Manics would do the same I'd be grateful right now.

It's all about the personal reminiscing... Reveal is very important to me personally... The Lifting, She Just Wants to Be, I'll Take the Rain, All the Way to Reno even Imitation of Life ("Like a Friday fashion show teenager freezing in the corner, Trying to look like you don't try") all fantastic pop songs.

 

But I too hate Shiny Happy People although the back-up vocals by Kate Pierson are great

Oh and if Radiohead and the Manics would do the same I'd be grateful right now.

 

 

Too true. I wish more bands would quit when they went shit.

I blame Shiny Happy People. It was all going so well until then. Despite the occasional great moment (Automatic For The People, couple of tracks of Monster and Accelerate) it's been a solid downward slope since then. Agree with Grimly. Their 80s outpu remains pure class, the 90s were patchy and the 00s onwards best left largely forgotten. I'm going to play Green, Document and Life's Rich Pageant to see them off in the way I'll always want to remember them.

 

Oh and if Radiohead and the Manics would do the same I'd be grateful right now.

 

Ahh, yes, the Manics..... How could I forget to mention those....?

Agree about the Manics. Fat middle aged grumpy old men. Doing Clash pastiches. In eyeliner. It was never gonna end happily. And certain not prettily.

 

And Reveal... Just played it again - it's still great I think. Was never a fan of Monster though must be honest.

Manics should have quit after Lifeblood. As dull as it was I never once cringed like I did at the self-parody that came afterwards. When a band trots out their own cliques it's time to shut up shop.

 

Reveal is an very very good album hampered by All the Way to Reno or whatever it was called. I've Been High and I'll Take the Rain bring tears to my eyes for totally different reasons.

Edited September 22, 201113 yr by tonyttt31

In retrospect the Manics should have followed New Order's example and rebranded themselves after Richey went AWOL. They haven't been the same band since. Yes, they've had their moments but everything about them has been different since. Not all bad just noticeably different

Manics were totally different band after Richie went missing. Of course fans who were fans before Everything Must Go think they were at their best back then but for me, again, This Is My Truth is the most important album personally and Know Your Enemy was brilliant too. I didn't listen to their older stuff until 2002 or so and whilst very good (especially lyrically) I prefer their post-Richie albums.

 

Is there someone who can objectively say that The Holy Bible contains better songwriting than Everything Must Go? Brilliant lyrics, yes, but better songs? No way.

 

But if The Holy Bible is important to you personally, it's only natural to think it's their best.

Edited September 23, 201113 yr by SKOB

Is there someone who can objectively say that The Holy Bible contains better songwriting than Everything Must Go? Brilliant lyrics, yes, but better songs? No way.

 

 

What is a song? A melody plus a lyric plus backing music? The Holy Bible wins on two of those counts - lyrics and music. The melody is not as obvious but it's there for me and I dont tire of listening to it whereas I went off EMG and TIMT ages ago. And I'm what is termed a new fan so I can only guess at the disappointment that old fans must have been experiencing.

 

I remember listening to the Holy Bible for the first time in Oct 1996. I remember saying I'd never love it. I think I liked Yes the most. But over time it grew and grew and I started to appreciate different aspects of it - the disgust at mankind's behaviour, the harshness of the music, the fact that it came after the American sound of Gold Against the Soul, the fact that it has an impact that no other album I've heard has. Now it's my favourite album ever.

Edited September 23, 201113 yr by tonyttt31

Oh, and I'd add U2 to bands that should quit but they are such a commercially viable live band that wont happen for a long time.