Mojo - The Music Magazine

R.E.M. called it quits at the end of last month after 31 years spent spinning bewitching gold from the base elements of guitars and drums. As demonstrated by Keith Cameron in this month's MOJO magazine, Buck, Mills, Stipe, and Berry - still integral to the legend, though physically absent since 1999 - leave a barely rivalled legacy of great music (it's hard to argue with any of their first eight albums) and an example for groups bent on succeeding without surrendering their integrity (Kurt Cobain and Thom Yorke both hoped to do it the R.E.M. way).

With the group disappears the last vestiges of "alternative rock" as it was once understood, but pray, don't blub. It was their time, and they gave us more than we could ever have hoped for. In parting tribute, allow MOJO to slightly alter the phrase painted by the Butthole Surfers on a van they left parked, somewhat creepily, outside R.E.M.'s singer's house in 1986: "Michael Stipe/Despite the Hype/[We'd] Love To Suck/Your Big Long Pipe..." A quarter century later, the invitation stands.

1. 1,000,000/Moral Kiosk (1982)

In the beginning there was...

2. I Got You Babe (1983)

Nice rehearsal space, gents!

3. Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars) (1983)

If anyone needed telling why R.E.M. were a beacon of substance in a decade of pastels and hair gel, here's the evidence. Any lowdown our American cousins can provide on Nickelodeon's Livewire strand is welcome!

4. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) (1984)

Stipe's lemon shirt would be striking enough, then there's the classic mumble in full effect and a vintage, fast-talking Buck interview. Mills volunteers Herschel Walker as another Athens notable: "Look at those thighs!"

5. Moon River/Pretty Persuasion (1984)

Buck's guitar carillon, Stipe's Byronic tresses, and that gorgeous, wrongfooting intro. The performance that converted a generation of British indie pencilnecks. Nominated by... everyone.

6. An entire Rockpalast set! (1985)

Stipe's been at the peroxide, and Feeling Gravitys Pull is a challenging, exhilarating kickoff. Thanks to Gareth Grundy for this.

7. The One I Love (1987)

Live on French TV, a powerful version of Document's counter-intuitive ode to romantic ambivalence. We'd forgoteen Stipe's ponytail! And nice jumper, Mike Mills!

8. It's The End Of The World (1987)

You'll remember R.E.M. channeling Subterranean Homesick Blues. But do you recall the charming, super-lo-fi promo directed by Stipe's University Of Georgia art prof, James Herbert?

9. Drive (1993)

WATCH VIDEO

MOJO's R.E.M.ographer David Buckley's favourite R.E.M video. Remember stage-diving?

10. Find The River (1993)

How many R.E.M. videos have dogs in? Answer: quite a few.

11. Eat Whale Meat (1994)

"Smiling Jappy people nourished": that's not on, is it? Blame the king of "not on", Chris Morris.

12. Country Feedback (1995)

From the Road Movie film of the Monster tour, its best bit: Out Of Time's Young-ian glower gone "stadium".

13. Furry Happy Monsters (1999)

Who knew Kate Pierson was a muppet? Did we ever see Stipe look so jolly again?

14. At My Most Beautiful (1999)

Up's gorgeous highpoint (although your writer also holds a torch for Sad Professor), live and unplugged.

15. The Great Beyond (1999)

Terrible video, but great song, penned for Andy Kaufman biopic, Man On The Moon

16. Wolves, Lower (2007)

And back to the beginning, or near enough. From the terrific "rehearsal" shows that bravely exposed work-in-progress on Accelerate, one of the revivals that heralded their reconnection with the fast folk-punkin' of their early records. R.E.M.ember them this way...

Annotated by: Danny Eccleston