R.E.M. Break Up After A 31 Year Run

Although R.E.M.'s remaining members questioned the group's longevity prior to the recording of 2008's Accelerate, and 2011'sCollapse Into Now seemed to quickly recede into the ethers shortly after its release, the announcement on September 21 that the band was breaking up still came as a surprise.

News of R.E.M.'s demise was posted on the band's website early today and was concisely, but gently, worded: "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."  

A career-spanning greatest hits collection is due out in November. R.E.M., who decided not to tour Collapse Into Now, last toured in 2008, which they deemed "exhausting," and apparently played their final gig on June 21, 2010 in London.

Later in the day, bandmates Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills shared their own personal thoughts:

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."

R.E.M. formed in Athens, Georgia in 1979 with a lineup of Stipe, Buck, Mills and drummer Bill Berry who left the band in 1997 after dealing with health issues, namely a brain aneurysm in 1995,. Their career began with the 1981 single "Radio Free Europe," segued to the 1982 EP Chronic Town and their 1983 debut album Murmur. Over a course of 15 studio albums - a greatest hits album is due out in 2011 - R.E.M. not only proved to be one of the most enduring, vital bands in American rock and roll, but also spurred the nascent indie or alternative rock movement of the early 80s. Their importance - and the musical influence they imparted on scores of bands in their wake - cannot be underestimated.

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