Bertis Downs

MURMUR, the band’s debut studio album, was released on this day in 1983 (as was lead single “Radio Free Europe”). In an interview with New Times in September 1984, Peter said, “[Murmur was intended to] present more of a unified whole. We didn’t want it to be just a debut album with a hit single and maybe a couple of other good songs. We wanted it to stand outside of what was going on in rock ‘n’ roll—a striking record that was also a little bit mysterious.” Where does Murmur rank among your favorite R.E.M. albums?

A well-preserved Reckoning poster from the HQ archive announcing the album, single and UK tour dates… 40 years strong.

File Under Water—Reckoning turns 40 today! The band’s second studio album, recorded at Reflection Sound in Charlotte with Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, was released in the UK on April 9. Share your favorite Reckoning track with us in the comments.

This @tallinnmusicweek was incredible! I'm filled with such an inspiration!! Thanks to everyone who participated in this puzzle in one way or another. Thank you my dear artists for your beautiful creation and stunning performances! Thank you TMW team! Awesome! I'll continue dreaming and believing.🤍 🌙@moon_mgmt 🌙

Paul Natkin photo of the band from early April 1985 (which was also the image used for a much loved Fables t-shirt). After a show to kick off the tour at Legion Field in Athens on April 22nd, the band hit the road for the Pre-Construction Tour in support of Fables Of The Reconstruction (released June ‘85).

Uncut’s special issue ranking the 500 Greatest Albums of the 1990s is out today and the band made the cover & the list … pick up a copy at @uncut_magazine ’s website or at all good newsstands/bookstores. And let us know in the comments how you rank ‘em!

It’s been again an exceptional edition of @tallinnmusicweek ! Thank you @sildnahelen and the team for the event and also for bringing @rem manager @bertisdowns over! It was a nice talk that brought back many nice memories! (From travels to interview REM to one of the best touring experiences when @brainstormofficial supported REM on their tour in Europe in 2004!) Till next year! #tmw

44 years ago on April 5, 1980, the band played their first show, and @slphipps took these photos that historic night in Athens at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Oconee Street. The R.E.M. Timeline gives a full account: 5 April 1980 - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Athens, GA support: The Side Effects supporting: The $windle$ possible set: set 1: I Can’t Control Myself / God Save The Queen / Narrator / Baby I / Action / Needles And Pins / Hippy Hippy Shake / There She Goes Again / All The Right Friends / Shakin’ All Over / Secret Agent Man / A Girl Like You / Permanent Vacation / I Can Only Give You Everything / Dangerous Times / Different Girl / Mystery To Me / (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone / Lisa Says / Nervous Breakdown / Schéhérazade set 2: Honky Tonk Women / One Nation Under A Groove / Roadrunner / California Sun / Gloria notes: First ever R.E.M. performance. Some reports have the band playing under the name ‘Twisted Kites’, other reports claim there was no band name. Song order is not known (although ‘I Can’t Control Myself’ and ‘God Save The Queen’ have been acknowledged to be the first two songs played) and it’s not known what other songs were played

On this day in 1995, “Strange Currencies” was released as a single in the US in the following formats: 7”, 12”, Cassingle & CD Single. Check out the official music video, directed by Mark Romanek at the link in bio along with The Bear Edit from season 2 of the hit FX series The Bear.

Setlist from the band’s show in Cincinnati at Riverfront Coliseum where the Indigo Girls provided support. Thanks to the R.E.M. Timeline for details. Indigo Girls set included: Kid Fears R.E.M.: Pop Song 89 / Exhuming McCarthy / Welcome To The Occupation / Turn You Inside-Out / Cuyahoga / Orange Crush / Sitting Still / Feeling Gravitys Pull / Time After Time (Annelise) / We Live As We Dream, Alone - World Leader Pretend / Begin The Begin / Pretty Persuasion / Rotary Ten / Tired Of Singing Trouble - I Believe / Strange / Get Up / Auctioneer (Another Engine) / It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) encore 1: Stand / Wolves, Lower / Fall On Me / You Are The Everything encore 2: Finest Worksong / King Of Birds / See No Evil encore 3: Harpers / Summertime / These Days / Crazy / Perfect Circle / After Hours

200 + artists including R.E.M. have signed an open letter warning developers against using artificial intelligence in music creation… Read Stereogum’s article on the open letter at the link in bio.