From this day in 1982 at the Pier in the Cameron Village Subway located beneath Cameron Village Shopping Center in Raleigh, NC. At this time they were not even a blip on my radar but here they are playing one of many early shows practically in my backyard. They first came to my attention the following spring when I heard “Laughing” from Murmur on WQDR, an album rock station out of Raleigh. The rest as they say is history…
14th October
2003 - ‘Bad Day’* 7" & CD Single is released in the US.
Still a great song in these times.
Also, R.E.M. performed on ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ BBC, London
Other acts performing: Jamelia, Buddy Guy, British Sea Power, Willis
set:
Jools Holland: Introduction
R.E.M.: Bad Day
Jamelia: Superstar
Jools Holland: Interview with Yoko Ono
Buddy Guy: Look What All You Got
British Sea Power: Remember Me
R.E.M.: Losing My Religion
Willis: Paper And Stone
Buddy Guy: Crawlin’ Kingsnake
Jools Holland: Interview with R.E.M.
British Sea Power: Carrion
R.E.M.: Nightswimming (Stipe, Mills & Stringfellow)
Jools Holland: Interview with Buddy Guy
Jamelia: Taxi
Buddy Guy: Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues
R.E.M.: What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Notes: Television performance on ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ on BBC2. The band performed ‘Bad Day’, ‘Losing My Religion’, ‘Nightswimming’ & ‘What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?’ as well as Jools Holland interviewing Michael, Peter & Mike - discussing what advice to give to younger bands, what items that each member takes on tour, what they would be doing in 15 years, & what inspired the song ‘Nightswimming’. This was broadcast on BBC2 on 17 October 2003.
And this was really special, and still is.
18th October
Neil Young (2nd set): From Hank To Hendrix / Distant Camera / Horseshoe Man / After The Goldrush / Expecting To Fly / Powderfinger / Ambulance Blues
R.E.M.: Losing My Religion / New Test Leper / Country Feedback / Daysleeper / At My Most Beautiful / Electrolite / Everybody Hurts / Man On The Moon
Notes: 12th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert. R.E.M. (without Michael Stipe) also played with Neil Young on his song ‘Ambulance Blues’ during his 2nd set, and Neil joined them on guitar for ‘Country Feedback’.
25th October
1985 - R.E.M. performed on the ‘The Tube’, Channel 4, Studio 5, Tyne Tee Television, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England
Other acts performing: Tom Waits
Tom Waits: 16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought Six / Cemetery Polka
R.E.M.: Driver 8 / Can’t Get There From Here
(R.E.M. Timeline)
4 November
2008 - SUE Festival 2008, Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile
Support: The Gangas, The Jesus And Mary Chain
Set: Living Well Is The Best Revenge / I Took Your Name / What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? / Drive / Driver 8 / Man-Sized Wreath / Ignoreland / Fall On Me / Hollow Man / Imitation Of Life / Horse To Water / Everybody Hurts / She Just Wants To Be / The One I Love / Nightswimming / Sweetness Follows / Bad Day / Orange Crush / It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Encore: Supernatural Superserious / Losing My Religion / I Believe / Radio Free Europe / Cuyahoga / Man On The Moon
Notes: Before ‘I Believe’, Bertis Downs comes onstage with a laptop to announce that Barack Obama looks very likely to be the next US President. Michael puts on a Barack Obama shirt & 4 audience members wearing Obama t-shirts are invited onstage to dance to the song. After the song, Michael checks his phone to make sure of the result.
(R.E.M. Timeline)