R.E.M. announced Wednesday that they have broken up after 3 memorable decades of great music. The band released this joint statement on their official website; "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."
For 31 years now, R.E.M. have been instrumental in defining the culture around "college rock", "alternative rock", "indie rock", or whatever you would like to label it as. They have influenced generations of musicians; moving from the underground into the mainstream, and selling millions and millions of records along the way. The band released a total of 15 albums, the latest of which being their 2011 release, Collapse into Now.
Indulge in some throwback R.E.M. with a live version of Loosing my Religion from their 1991 album Out of Time.
