REM to split up

Nothing new then unless its a new tax dodge?

They split up a few years ago and went off and did solo stuff with other people only got together to play some live gigs.

Great band but they have nothing new to give album wise now.Same old Same old.

So  its a good time to put a line under REM now IMO.

Stu, 

I wish more bands would split up.

Warwick,

I dont know who your sources are in the music industry?

 Michael has not been that well over the last year and that might come out soon as being one of the many reasons why.

Stu

Most people can remember where they were when JFK was shot.

And when man walked on the moon.

Most people on the planet will remember where they were when Mark Park split up.

Who will remeber where they were when REM split?

Stu

Perhaps they were losing their religion which was shame as they were shiny happy people who just enjoyed adventures in hi-fi especially on radio free Europe, but I guess if if REM does split, it's not the end of the world as we know it - is it true or just a  murmur? 

Everyones got to go night swimming some time

WTF is Mark Park?

Mark Park was the first solo artist in history to split up.

What like the schizophrenic who was in 2 minds about going out?

I am listening to Bob talking to Jakson Browne  man.

Its big news,Its made it to the front cover of BBC Radio news Mark Park has split up again.

Yay!!!!

A comment in Guardian (via Twitter):-

"Yet another mediocre band that has been outlived by the Quo"

REM were for years one of my favourite bands: Life's Rich Pageant and Fables of the Reconstruction are simply superb. But they have done little of note for years and were well past their sell by date. Bands seem not to know when to stop. Better to go at your peak (The Jam and The Smiths are great examples - though not to everyone's taste I know - but I loved them both) than to gradually fade.

To continue the cheese, the day of Reckoning has finally arrived.

Stipe remains one of the great showmen and vocalists. Sadly, I never saw them live but have seen a couple of concert DVDs. I got into them around "New Adventures in HiFI" and "Automatic For The People". I highly rate these two records, as well as "Monster" and "Green". Never delved into their back catalogue before that, but agree that later stuff was a bit mixed. I listen to " Reveal" and "Around the Sun" from time to time, but they don't click like the previously mentioned albums.

I got into them early on and they kind of lost me over the last 10 years or so. While I wish them well in their new endeavors, I will really not miss them being together as a band at this point.

Cannot think of another American band who put together a better five years than this....

1983 - Murmur

1984 - Reckoning

1985 - Fables of the Reconstruction

1986 - Life's Rich Pagent

1987 - Document

IMO, they deserve as much credit as anyone for developing indie/alt rock as a new genre. 

There were certainly a lot of bands to follow in the 90's that named REM as their major influence.

Hook

BBC RADIO 6 this morning had a great interview with Mike,While playing loads of REM tracks.

Its on iplayer.

Stu

It was the Matt Everitte show at 12:00.