Musicians Speak Out about REM

By the time you read this article, you will have likely heard the news of REM’s breakup along with all the puns and song lyric quotes you can stand.

It’s just a hugely successful bunch of guys going their separate ways, for cryin’ out loud, not any sort of death or terminal disease. Let’s keep our perspective here, people. Let’s give those exhausted, road-weary guys a break. Is it really? The end of the world as we know it? I think not. 

However, it is a little heartbreaking, there is no denying it. REM helped define an entire genre of music that began in the early 80’s. I don’t even know what that genre would be called, but it seemed to be interlaced with in-your-face honesty and dare-I-actually-make-this-statement reality. That genre of music set the tone for an entire generation and the way they view and respond to everyday life in today’s world. 

Oddly, REM’s music also crossed over into other generations of previous rockers and disco lovers. My friends and I were all already in our mid- 20’s when REM came along. We grew up with Elvis and The Beatles and other 70’s stars, yet we found ourselves as adults drawn into the rock vortex of hypnotic REM rhythms and lyrical labyrinths.  They had me at that tinkling interwoven mandolin in “Loosing My Religion.”

No one likes to hear about a break up of any kind. A favorite couple, a favorite band, a company merger that leaves a trail of destruction in it’s wake. But in our home town of Athens, hearing of the breakup of REM is especially shocking because they seem, so, well….OURS. Our local-boys-made-good.  Our shining stars of many shining stars which have emerged from the Athens Music Scene. In fact, over the last 31 years, they were a huge part of even the coining of that phrase, “Athens Music Scene.”

My husband’s career as a musician has put us in close proximity to said music scene, and the buzz amongst our talented group of friends, both locally and across the country, about the break up of REM is especially telling in that their influence not only cast a light on emotions of people across the globe, but also trickled down into so many more musical notes amongst those chosen few who make music their entire lives. In that way, their influence was the ripple that became the wave, the butterfly’s flight that spun the tornado, the voice of a generation.

Local Musician Steve Shiver got a glimpse of what was to come early on. “The fall of '81 found me leaving Chick Piano late one night after some work in their old studio. It was dark and I was tired. As I moved toward my car on Clayton I heard guitar coming from the building next door. I was drawn and eagerly moved closer to hear. It was a single guitarist polishing sounds with a loop recorder. The patterns were moving ... I'm sure I stood there, leaning against the wall, for at least 30 minutes fascinated and delighted with the movement ... it was magical. Finally at about midnight I left the worker alone to contemplate his designs.

The next day I called Van at and told him of the fabulous sounds I'd heard the night before. 'This new band REM has set up office next door, you heard Peter.' he said. 'Well,' I said, 'what I heard last night was amazing, and if that's any indication, I think they're going to do all right!' ... we both said 'We'll see.'" 

Michael C. Steele, musician, and my better half, expresses his admiration for REM eloquently, “Since the 50’s there have been tight-knit groups of musicians whose collective chemistry chiseled and formed the face of Rock Music.  From Bill Haley and the Comets to The Beatles, to Led Zepplin and The Band.  REM has earned a well deserved spot on that illustrious list.

Atlanta keyboardist and producer Martin Kearns admits to not even really being a fan, yet is still affected by their music, “I always think of myself as not being an REM fan until I hear one of their songs & remember I love their music.”   

“31 years is a damn good run,” says Michael Doke. “I’m a blues and southern rock man so I wasn’t musically affected by REM’s sound, but I have a lot of respect and admiration for them, how well they did and how they shared their success in so many charitable works locally and world wide. They have been great for this community by helping shine a light on other acts, just simply by being from Athens.” Doke continues, “Just this week I enjoyed playing with Bill Berry at The Melting Point for a fundraiser for Tim White.” Like many other local musicians Michael Doke admires how the guys from REM  stuck to what they believe in and made positive statements with their celebrity. 

Guitarist and Blues singer/songwriter Rick Fowler says, "R.E.M. had the courage, wisdom, and talent to create their excellent sound and to never give in to music industry pressure. By keeping artistic control, they became more powerful than the industry itself and consequently delivered decades of wonderful music. They will always be an inspiration to artists everywhere."

Certainly, one of Athens most sought after artists, Randall Bramblett, remembers the first time he heard REM back at the old B & L warehouse.

"I was so impressed with them that I went back stage to talk to them about recording some demos. They were gracious about it but politely declined because they already had offers. They took off before they even really got started... like The Stones early on."

Bramblett continues, "People were excited by them. Personally, I was musically inspired by the 'jangliness' of the guitars and how they brought an Americana sound by using mandolins and acoustic guitars but it was a modern sound and modern songwriting.

"I was always amazed that they stayed nice guys and paid attention to Athens and to conservation issues," says Bramblett, who then echoed something almost every other musician I interviewed felt about REM.  "They always stayed grounded. I really admire the way they handled thier sucess."

The end of a musical era, perhaps, but the path  REM cleared for musicians all over the world remains clear.  Their music will live on for generations, and their often haunting lyrics read like prophecy.  I doubt we've seen the last of them locally or world wide.  Stay tuned.

For a list of REM songs, click .