R.E.M. Reunites on Stage After 17 Years

30 Mar R.E.M. Reunites on Stage After 17 Years

Against all odds, the four original members of R.E.M.—Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry—performed together live for the first time in 17 years. The unexpected reunion took place at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, during a tribute show led by Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy.

The highlight of the night came when R.E.M. took the stage together to perform “Pretty Persuasion”, a classic from their 1984 album Reckoning. While Stipe only joined for that song, Mills, Buck, and Berry contributed to other moments in the show, playing tracks like “Wendell Gee”, “1,000,000”, and “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville”.

The evening also featured a special appearance by Lenny Kaye, guitarist for Patti Smith, who performed two Velvet Underground covers alongside Buck and Mills.

This reunion marks a historic moment for the band, which has repeatedly ruled out an official comeback. However, just months prior, R.E.M. had performed live at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony—their first time on stage together since 2007..