After 31 years. Not too bad.

http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=1446


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Loved REM back in the late 80s. Thought the back to back albums of Life's Rich Paegent and Document were just fab. From Green onwards though they slowly slipped in my reckoning, still good until Monster I reckon but not so much after that.

One of the more important rock bands of the last 30 years for sure.

Wow. That's a little sad. I've just been getting into R.E.M. recently, and they have had such a major influence on alternative music, through everything from Nirvana to Radiohead to adult alternative via Automatic for the People. IMO their best music was their earliest, but it's still pretty sad.

RIPREM!

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Well it's sad but I do think it's the right decision. It's hard to argue that their current efforts are up to the same standards as their older work, it's probably best to just move on if they can't ever hit that peak again.

The part that really sucks is I never got to see them live. Sigh. Maybe they'll have a reunion tour in 10 years :P.

Been my favorite band since Murmur.
I have been lucky enough to see them live many many times.
Good Luck to Peter, Mike, Michael and Bill.
Maybe you'll just tour now and then.

That's sad, in a way - just because they've been such a fixture (and a force) in music for 30+ years now. It just seems strange to know that R.E.M. isn't actively out there playing or recording any longer. But few bands last as long or accomplish as much, and it sounds like they're ending this the right way - amiably and in agreement, feeling like they've reached the natural end of their evolution as a band. Far better they walk away satisfied with themselves artistically than they flail around for years longer finding nothing but unsatisfactory answers to the "what next?" question.

Big bonus points for actually having a hit song called "What's the frequency Kenneth?"

Great band . "Green" definitely my favourite mainly because they had mastered the jangly indy guitar thing and there must have been a huge temptation to continue with what was working . Instead they came out with beautiful stuff like "Night Swimming".

@SuperJay.....yeah , what you said . They also don't seem like jerks , a less and less common phenomena in the pop world.

All things must pass.

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http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/story/r-e-m-in-the-real-world-rolling-stones-1987-cover-story-20110921/1000x306/main.jpg

A sentiment I agree with :D

one of my favourites from their more recent stuff:
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Looking forward to the Reunion tour :p

My personal favourite R.E.M. song:

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One of my favourite music videos:
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One of my favourite music videos:
That video is amazing. I was watching it yesterday as well...

Only ever really liked their bigger hits, but they had a massive influence on alt rock, so still a sad announcement.