R.E.M. perform for first time in 15 years to celebrate huge achievement

Virgin Radio

14 Jun 2024, 12:21

R.E.M. reunited for a special performance of their hit song ‘Losing My Religion’ on Thursday, 13th June.

Performing together for the first time in over 15 years, band members Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck were celebrating their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York.

Before their performance, Billboard reports singer Stipe said on behalf of the band: “Writing songs and having a catalogue of work that we’re all proud of that is out there for the rest of the world for all time is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did. 

------------------------------------

DON'T MISS:

Shania Twain reveals the one thing she was ‘banned’ from doing in Prince’s house

Oasis reunion rumours heat up as fans spot ‘reserved for Noel’ sign at Liam Gallagher gig

Glastonbury 2024 set times and performers: who is playing each day and when?

------------------------------------

“Second to that is that we managed to do so all those decades and remain friends,” he added. “And not just friends, dear friends.

“We are four people that very early on decided that we would own our own masters and we would split our royalties and songwriting credits equally. All for one and one for all.”

R.E.M.'s reunion on Thursday evening came as a complete surprise to fans, who just days earlier had heard the band joke that it would take a fluke such as a “comet” to get the group back on stage performing once more.

But it’s likely the group will heed the rest of the views they shared about a future more permanent reunion during their CBS Mornings interview earlier this week.

“It would never be as good,” guitarist Buck said of the possibility of the band making new music together. On their official split in 2011, he explained: “At that point, there wasn’t anything we could agree on really, musically - what kind of music, how to record it, are we gonna go on tour.

“We could barely agree on where to go to dinner! And now we can just agree on where to go to dinner.”

Bill Berry left R.E.M. in 1997 after suffering a brain aneurysm while performing with the group, but the remaining three bandmates stayed together as a band until 2011. Until last night, all four members of R.E.M. had not performed together since 2006.