I got REM the instant I heard Fables of the Reconstruction. It was 1985 and I was 12 years old. Then I found Chronic Town and Mumur. They simply fit so perfectly into my life as a Louisiana boy. I dreamed of moving to Athens. I loved finding meaning in the mysterious lyrics. The words and the music went hand in hand. It was (or seemed to me) so fantastically new! So nice to watch this. Pilgrimage has gained momentum
I am pretty sure this was REM's first UK live TV appearance . I was already a huge admirer and couldn't wait to see them live . Saw them a few months after this in Birmingham (Tin Can Club around 50/100 people !) They didn't disappoint ! I think the 1980's were the best time for this band
I think your right , I saw them five times in 1985 and thought they were fantastic with a wonderful mystique and brilliant guitar sound ! I lost interest when Green was released
@@stevet8444to me, Green was kinda their Joshua Tree in terms of mass exposure.. But by the 90’s they became more grandiose with pretensious music videos.. They lost me at losing my religion
Not just one of the greatest of all American Bands . But one of the greatest bands of any era. In my all time top 10 bands/artists headed by the Beatles . Including the Velvet Underground, Dead Can Dance. Wall of Voodoo, Joy Division, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, The National (another great US band but still current ) .
This was a cool cultural exchange. When the Brits were sending us all those Britpop electronic acts like OMD, New Order and Human League, we sent them a folk rock band like Rem that didn’t even use Synths. It was like sending them a piece of wood 🪵. All natural. And I’m always amazed at all the Appregios Peter Buck plays during every song. I don’t know how he does it. He is the key to their sound along with Stipes voice.
We also had Joy Division, The Smiths, Twelfth Night , Marillion , Magazine, The Only Ones, Simple Minds, The Cure, The Fall etc. But of course sadly some of those never played live in the US (Joy Division were about to tour . But Ian Curtis sadly committed suicide (rip) in May 1980
This is kind of surprising that the kids are standing there staring and watching kind of like they either don’t like what they’re hearing or that they are deciding are they cool enough or should we reject them? Sad reaction! At the time they time they were considered the best American band around. But the Brits had Britpop and OMD, Joy Division, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran! And Gary Numan! A lot of Synth based music and REM sounded Retro compared to the new sounds coming out of the U.K. Still, I personally thought they were good, especially Radio Free Europe! That was a Classic Hit! And the proof is that I don’t cringe hearing their music 40 years later! It holds up! 🔥👏🏻💥🎸😎
I was sort of thinking that but I know a bunch of those in the audience were transfixed. REM had a new sound that deeply resonated and they built an enormous fan base. If I were at the show I would just want to stare and enjoy.
I remember seeing this at the time (The Tube was a must-see every week as there was no other place on British TV to see music like this) and that began my love affair with REM
I had just graduated from high school when I first heard them... I was like WTF is this... I scrambled to find the lyrics to the songs, remember this was decades before the easy to find stuff out Google... The words spoke to me
Those Bananarama girls dancing to ... yeah to what.. little did they know. Further audience seems dubious to how the hell to respond. How does this relate to Spandau Ballet. Bizar. Beautiful.
I don't blame the befuddled audience, it took me plenty of listens to "get" the genius of early REM. I probably watched this as a schoolboy and only remember fancying Paula Yates and rocking to The Cult. (great clip of "Phoenix" on The Tube for further investigation)
'all the way from the deep south, by which i mean atlanta not croydon' i don't know which is funnier, the actual joke or the fact that they're from athens.
I liked Green, it was different, but I liked it. After that, they became a band that had a love/hate relationship with commerciality. I didn't like the pandering quality of the songs, even if who they were pandering to tended to change with each release or even with each song.
![R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe + So. Central Rain (Hifi Mono) [10-6-83]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PZDttTHeDEI/mqdefault.jpg)
![R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe + So. Central Rain (Hifi Mono) [10-6-83]](/img/tr.png)
Unforgettable performance, Mike Mills hugely underrated
Yes! So many interesting bass lines, and great harmony singing.
His bass lies run like a melody through the songs. Amazing.
Those bass lines are really integral to that sound- never even occured to me till now
I didn't know he was playing a jazz bass back then. Only ever seem him with a Rick.
As is Berry and Buck
"We are not from Atlanta...we're from Athens." Nice.
He was just using the city of Atlanta to explain which "deep south" he was talking about. The audience had probably heard of Atlanta but not Athens.
But from this planet?
Ohhhh poors.
It’s like introducing the Beatles as a band from London!
@@MitchPowers 🤣
@@MitchPowersor Nirvana from Seattle when they were from Aberdeen.
I got REM the instant I heard Fables of the Reconstruction. It was 1985 and I was 12 years old.
Then I found Chronic Town and Mumur. They simply fit so perfectly into my life as a Louisiana boy. I dreamed of moving to Athens. I loved finding meaning in the mysterious lyrics. The words and the music went hand in hand. It was (or seemed to me) so fantastically new!
So nice to watch this.
Pilgrimage has gained momentum
Fables is my favorite LP of all time. Hands down. All the albums through that point are amazing.
Little did they all know, they were witnessing groundbreaking musical history, and a transformative direction into alternative..
"We're not from Atlanta, we're from Athens" 😄 Come on, Jools, get it right!
I am pretty sure this was REM's first UK live TV appearance . I was already a huge admirer and couldn't wait to see them live . Saw them a few months after this in Birmingham (Tin Can Club around 50/100 people !)
They didn't disappoint !
I think the 1980's were the best time for this band
I have to say I agree as I don't like any of their stuff from the 90s onwards with the exception of Automatic for the People.
I think your right , I saw them five times in 1985 and thought they were fantastic with a wonderful mystique and brilliant guitar sound ! I lost interest when Green was released
I'd agree with that.....although I really like New Adventures in Hi Fi...which is very underrated.
The Tube was essential viewing at the time :)
@@paulgiblin5450 Yes some great bands on that show inc the best band I have seen live = Wall of Voodoo.
@@stevet8444to me, Green was kinda their Joshua Tree in terms of mass exposure.. But by the 90’s they became more grandiose with pretensious music videos.. They lost me at losing my religion
A blast from the past when they were the darlings of college radio...
This is a legendary band. whether you like them or not. So many songs that have been part of of my life and should be for you.
Not just one of the greatest of all American Bands . But one of the greatest bands of any era. In my all time top 10 bands/artists headed by the Beatles . Including the Velvet Underground, Dead Can Dance. Wall of Voodoo, Joy Division, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, The National (another great US band but still current ) .
Those were the days. Legendary band! Not everyone can carry the weight of the world.
Definitive proof that there were indeed some good things about being alive in the 80s.
And that REM were once a mighty rock band!
Jesus they were amazing back then
Was in the audience that day
I freakin love Pete Buck’s locked knee shuffle jumps. I still have no idea how he can play and move around like that.
My thoughts exactly!!
Best rhythm section ever . Like a train.
One example of how Stipe changed RFE lyrics on the fly!
This was a cool cultural exchange. When the Brits were sending us all those Britpop electronic acts like OMD, New Order and Human League, we sent them a folk rock band like Rem that didn’t even use Synths. It was like sending them a piece of wood 🪵. All natural.
And I’m always amazed at all the Appregios Peter Buck plays during every song. I don’t know how he does it. He is the key to their sound along with Stipes voice.
Mills and Berry certainly were integral to their unique sound too, just an incredible band
We also had Joy Division, The Smiths, Twelfth Night , Marillion , Magazine, The Only Ones, Simple Minds, The Cure, The Fall etc. But of course sadly some of those never played live in the US (Joy Division were about to tour . But Ian Curtis sadly committed suicide (rip) in May 1980
I can remember the first time I heard this tune. It was the single version and it was ROCKING!!!
C'mon Fender: Mike Mills signature J Bass
he rarely played them but I would LOVE a Mike Mills signature bass
It was brilliant at the time and I remember taping it. And it's still amazing nearly 40 years on.
This is kind of surprising that the kids are standing there staring and watching kind of like they either don’t like what they’re hearing or that they are deciding are they cool enough or should we reject them? Sad reaction!
At the time they time they were considered the best American band around. But the Brits had Britpop and OMD, Joy Division, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran! And Gary Numan! A lot of Synth based music and REM sounded Retro compared to the new sounds coming out of the U.K.
Still, I personally thought they were good, especially Radio Free Europe! That was a Classic Hit! And the proof is that I don’t cringe hearing their music 40 years later! It holds up!
🔥👏🏻💥🎸😎
I was sort of thinking that but I know a bunch of those in the audience were transfixed. REM had a new sound that deeply resonated and they built an enormous fan base.
If I were at the show I would just want to stare and enjoy.
This was a LONG time before Britpop.
Yep, The Best of legendary Band.
R.E.M. and Pixies - man where would be without them
Peter never lacks energy
Beautiful
I remember seeing this at the time (The Tube was a must-see every week as there was no other place on British TV to see music like this) and that began my love affair with REM
-- my all-time favorite band (they're from Athens, GA)
This reminds so much about my Art School Days. Priceless.
Michael looks like he could have been fronting a grunge band in Seattle in '91
R.E.M canciones y música genial! 2019💓💓
JOOLS HOLLAND HOSTING THE TUBE//LOVE IT
Awesome!
I've seen REM live many times, could never fathom how Buck can play guitar in perfect time but he can't move his whole body to the beat.
I had just graduated from high school when I first heard them... I was like WTF is this... I scrambled to find the lyrics to the songs, remember this was decades before the easy to find stuff out Google... The words spoke to me
If Jools Holland had said they were from Athens some would have thought that he meant Greece!
-- and they're from *Atlantis*
The first Time I really tought that they were from Greece
They knew they were that good. Love it.
If you look at this performance on the Tube and the 1985 show just two years later it is just day and night.
They know they are witnessing greatness.
Saw them at Nashville's T-Pac that year...great concert.
Those Bananarama girls dancing to ... yeah to what.. little did they know. Further audience seems dubious to how the hell to respond. How does this relate to Spandau Ballet. Bizar. Beautiful.
Michael has hair on top!
I don't blame the befuddled audience, it took me plenty of listens to "get" the genius of early REM. I probably watched this as a schoolboy and only remember fancying Paula Yates and rocking to The Cult. (great clip of "Phoenix" on The Tube for further investigation)
Listening to Manchester orchestra a lot lately. They are from Atlanta
Boom!
OMG
0:17 Mike Mills is beating that bass like he's angry with it.
Probably pissed cuz the host said they were from Atlanta
Look at Stipe with his hoody. So 2000's. :)
Hi
In Buenos Aires, Michael Stipe said this: «This song is our # 1 single in Japan, this is "Imitation of life"». Why?
I don't know. Please ask him directly.
@@allendracabal0819😂😂😂
36 years later, still a great song. Shame they are still around now.
Wow
The Allman brothers are also from Atlanta.
Jacksonville, FL / Macon
Ginza Goza en 2019
Are they playing on borrowed equipment? I've never seen Peter play that particular Rick, and I've never seen Mike play a Jazz Bass.
No that was their own guitars, the Rick 330 was used as a backup for his 360.
I've never seen him play a black 330, although I've seen play, IIRC, a mapleglow one. Mike's often played a Jazz bass though, hasn't he?
1983 Stipe style 🤝 2003 me at uni style
'all the way from the deep south, by which i mean atlanta not croydon' i don't know which is funnier, the actual joke or the fact that they're from athens.
Athens is a great little college town.
They were great when on IRS : afterwards not .
I liked Green, it was different, but I liked it. After that, they became a band that had a love/hate relationship with commerciality. I didn't like the pandering quality of the songs, even if who they were pandering to tended to change with each release or even with each song.
I disagree strongly. Automatic for the people is one of their best. Look how it starts with " Drive" , followed by the magnificent "try not to breath"