R.E.M. Breakup: Band Member Says Split 'Feels Right'
The pioneering band REM calls it quits today after a 31 year successful career.
After 31 years of making music and producing 15 albums, alternative rock band R.E.M. announced an amicable split Wednesday.
The band, which is also highly involved in political activism, began discussing a break up while on their last tour.
“We started asking ourselves, ‘what’s next,’” said bassist Mike Mills.
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Mills attributes no controversy to spurring the breakup, but rather comments that “the time just feels right.”
Lead singer Michael Stipe chimed in, “We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing, and now we’re going to walk away from it.”
Ethan Kaplan, owner of the band’s fan community, Murmurs, told Rolling Stone Magazine that he attributes the break-up to the Warner Bros’ company change last Fall.
“After how hard they worked for how long, the thought of going back to ‘paying dues’ with new label staff in a very weird industry, was too much.”
R.E.M is attributed to pioneering the indie rock movement in 1980, beginning in Athens, Georgia. Their innovative music style, including Stipe’s signature whaling, raspy voice, allowed them to produce such hits as “Losing My Religion” and “Automatic for the People."
According to Allmusic, they marked the point when the post-punk genre turned evolved to alternative rock.
Critics also attribute the bands musical diversity to its great success. Over their 31-year stretch they produced both morose, dark songs channeling death and upbeat pop songs for mainstream radio stations.
On their official website, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers unanimously thanked their fans for their success.
“Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you,” said drummer Peter Buck.
