Yesterday (September 21), one of the leading American bands R.E.M. posted an announcement on their website that the band has decided to “call it a day.”
"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening."
The group of friends from Athens, Georgia formed R.E.M. in 1979. While their career has spanned 15 studio albums and huge global success, the band itself only ever comprised the four original members.
The one person to leave this tight-knit group was drummer Bill Berry, who retired two years after suffering a brain aneurysm on-stage during 1995’s Monster tour. But not before extracting a promise from his band mates that they would continue on as R.E.M.: "Bill insisted he would stay, if his leaving meant breaking the band up," remembers Michael Stipe.
“During our last tour, and while making ‘Collapse Into Now’ and putting together this greatest hits retrospective; we started to ask ourselves ‘what next?’," commented Mike Mills. "Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together. The time just feels right."
The group’s latest album, Collapse Into Now, was released in March and they are planning to release a Greatest Hits compilation in November.