On this day in 1983, R.E.M., supported by The Community Trolls, performed at Stitch Craft, Inc., an old sewing factory on Oconee Street in Athens, opposite the church.

Remembering Bill Rieflin on what would have been his 65th birthday.

On this day in 1984, R.E.M. played the Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The concert is featured on the bootleg Philadelphia 1984, naturally.

On this day in 1990, Tourfilm, which documents the final five nights of the Green World Tour, was released in the U.S. It features 17 songs, recorded in Roanoke and Hampton, Virginia; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Macon and Atlanta, Georgia.

On this day 30 years ago, Patti Smith joined the band onstage for the first time, at the New World Music Theater in Tinsley Park, Illinois, for a version of ‘Dancing Barefoot’ during the encores.

Re: Near Wild Heaven. @millsish.bsky.social

On this day 14 years ago, R.E.M. announced, via their website, that after 31 years, five months and seventeen days together, they were “calling it a day” as a creative unit. They had released fifteen studio albums and 63 singles during their career.

On this day in 1996, New Adventures in Hi-Fi entered the UK charts at #1. A week later, the album only managed #2 in the U.S.

A photograph from this day in 1982, when R.E.M. played The Drumstick in Lincoln, Nebraska, supported by Charlie Burton and the Cutouts.

Photographs taken by Peter Anderson on this day in 1986, before the band's show at the Fair Park Bandshell in Dallas, Texas.

On this day in 1981, R.E.M. played the New Pilgrim Theatre in New York City, supporting The Bloods. ‘1,000,000’ and ‘Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)’ were performed live for the first known time.

On this day in 1995, R.E.M. played The Woodlands in Houston, Texas. ‘Wichita Lineman’, recorded during the concert, was released as a B-side on the ‘Bittersweet Me’ single the follow year.

On this day in 1981, the band travelled to New York City to promote their demo tape. While there, George DuBose photographed them at their first professional photo shoot.

On this day thirty years ago, R.E.M. played the Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ‘Binky the Doormat’ was performed live for the first known time.

Another from the R.E.M. shoot by Paul Natkin in 1983, as seen in @mojomagazine.bsky.social 's excellent Collectors Series edition. @remonthisday.bsky.social #musicphotography

On this day in 1996, R.E.M. released their tenth studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi.

On this day in 1991, a week-long recording session with The Troggs began at John Keane Studio, with the R.E.M. musicians and Peter Holsapple all contributing. The album, titled Athens Andover, was released in March the following year.

On this day in 1991, ‘You Woke Up My Neighbourhood’ by Billy Bragg and featuring Michael Stipe, made #54 in the UK charts. Peter Buck, who plays mandolin and acoustic guitar on the song, also appears in the video, shot partly at Buck Manor.

On this day in 1994, ’What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?’ was released as the first single off Monster.

On this day in 1991, Bill, Mike and Michael were at the eighth annual MTV Video Music Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre. ‘Losing My Religion’ gave them six awards: Best Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Direction in a Video, Best Art Direction and Best Editor.

On this day in 1986, R.E.M. began the three-month-long Pageantry Tour at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham, Alabama. ‘These Days’, ‘Begin the Begin’, ‘The One I Love’, ‘Cuyahoga’, ‘The Flowers of Guatemala’, ‘I Believe’, ‘Superman’, ‘Strange’ and ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins’ were given live debuts.

Labor Day 1990 sees recording begin for Out of Time at Bearsville Studios in New York. The basic tracks were cut here, before overdubbing at John Keane back in Athens.

On this day 40 years ago, ‘Driver 8’ was released in the U.S. as the second and final single off Fables of the Reconstruction with ‘Crazy’ as the B-side. ‘Wendell Gee’ was also released as a single this month, but in Europe only.

On this day in 1993, R.E.M. performed ‘Everybody Hurts’ and a funk version of ‘Drive’ at the 10th annual MTV Video Music Awards held at the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City. ‘Man on the Moon’ was nominated in six categories, including Video of the Year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN77...

On this day in 2003, R.E.M. played the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, Washington. www.seattlepi.com/entertainmen...

ChatGPT’d while bored. (Yes, I know they weren’t yet R.E.M.) chatgpt.com/share/68aefd...

On this day in 1996, R.E.M. signed a new five-album deal with Warner Bros., reportedly worth a world-record $80 million, at the company’s Annual Strategy Summit at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

On this day in 1982, R.E.M.'s 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛 EP was released in the U.S. at a bargain $5.98. The five songs included: 'Wolves, Lower', 'Gardening at Night', 'Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)', '1,000,000' and 'Stumble'. Bill explained the choice of title: "A 'chronic town' is a city in the state of mind."

On this day in 1983, R.E.M. supported The Police at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The ten songs played: Wolves, Lower Moral Kiosk Pilgrimage Talk About the Passion Sitting Still Harborcoat Catapult Gardening at Night Radio Free Europe Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)

On this day in 1983, R.E.M. played JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in support of The Police, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Madness.

Happy 60th birthday to Bronx native KRS-One.

On this day in 1983, ‘Radio Free Europe’ peaked at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100, in its fifth week on the chart.

On this day in 1981, R.E.M. played The Station in Carrboro, North Carolina, for a fourth and final time. It had been the venue for their first gig outside of Georgia the previous year. It closed in 2023, having been in business since the 1970s.

On this day 40 years ago, Steve Fjelstad and the band remixed ‘Ages of You’, ‘Burning Down’ and ‘Crazy’ at Nicollet Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All three of the songs are featured on Dead Letter Office.

On this day 30 years ago, R.E.M. played The Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. ‘The Wake-Up Bomb’ was performed live for the first time.

On this day in 1986, R.E.M. released their fourth studio album, 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑠 𝑅𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑃𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑡. The track listing on the back was in the wrong order and two tracks short - the closing ‘Underneath the Bunker’ and ‘Superman’ - which were added to the album late in proceedings.

On this day in 1982, R.E.M. were the first band to play the Cabaret Metro in Chicago. Around 500 people were in attendance. Club owner Joe Shanahan first saw them at Danceteria in New York in February, and asked them if they would play at his club.

On this day in 1993, Michael’s paternal grandmother, Laura, died at the age of 87. She was the inspiration for the lyric to ‘Try Not to Breathe’, written during her period of failing health.

On this day in 1980, R.E.M. played The Pier in Raleigh, North Carolina. Local newspaper, The Spectator, complimented the band. “It’s easy to go overboard about how genuine a band is, but even easier to think of thirty bands who play better than R.E.M. and project nothing.”

On this day in 1980, Bill, acting as the band’s booking agent, called Jefferson Holt to arrange three North Carolina dates, after Pylon cancelled.

On this day in 1981, R.E.M. played Ron’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut. “R.E.M., on a Tuesday night, back when all they had out was the ‘Radio Free Europe’ single and Pete Buck was using my guitar as his had just been stolen.” - Spike Priggen (1/2)

On this day in 2001, a celebration of twenty years of R.E.M. took place at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina. The show doubled as a benefit for Don Dixon, who was recovering from a heart attack. Mike joined The Mayflies USA onstage for a performance of ‘Toys in the Attic’.

On this day in 2003, R.E.M. headlined their second Glastonbury Festival. The band spent the previous night in Bath, from where they travelled to the event by train. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVEZ...

On this day in 1984, R.E.M. played the Music Hall in Seattle, Washington, with Scott McCaughey in attendance. ‘Driver 8’ and ‘Catapult’ from the show were later released as B-sides.

Fair.

On this day in 1981, R.E.M. played a second-consecutive night at the Ritz in New York City, supporting the Gang of Four.

And performed on this day in 1998. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK6U...

Recorded on this day in 1984. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Ib...

On this day 40 years ago, R.E.M. released their third studio album, Fables of the Reconstruction.