From this very first recording in 1980 to Collapse Into Now in 2011, R.E.M. never missed a beat. Thanks for 31 years of memorable, enjoyable and inspiring music.
This is officially the EARLIEST KNOWN R.E.M. recording that's ever surfaced. It's definitely from May 1980. Most people think it's probably May 30, but it could be an earlier date in May 1980 @ The 40 Watt.
It is hard to describe just how damn much energy and excitement R.E.M. generated during these early days. Athens was full of energetic young bands in the late 70s/early80s who could all macht show, but none of them could top R.E.M. Were they the best band in the world? Of course not, but if you saw them you knew, knew, that they were more than just another scruffy college cover band--they had something even then. You could almost feel them get better day-by-day. It was a great time and place.
Yeah, it was AMAZING. While I don't have a specific memory, I was probably present at the recording of all of these early, Athens-based recordings. I also saw them whenever they played 688 over in the ATL. Bet we pogo'd next to each other. These they take me right back. Stipe was like an exposed nerve, herky-jerky and spin-y all over, but kind of, well, odd, between numbers. I remember him reading from a Look magazine from the 40s between numbers once at Tyrone's.
It was a great time and place. I was there. My college buddies and I would head out to Tyrone's every Saturday night! I had to fake my I.D. to get in, but soon became a regular and the bouncer always let me in. Tyrone's burned down in 1982, putting a seal on the moments we had with the soon to be famous R.E.M., and some of best times of our lives!
Unless you were in that room at that time, you have no idea what you're talking about. This was the most exciting music in a long time, much better than what the band did on later records when they started thinking about it. The covers are just for fun, not serious "musicmaking". This was pure energy, drawing from the energy of the crowd and the place and the era.
Well, their first gig was a birthday party, then they played a second one to get cash to pay the deposit for the keg tap at the first one. I think their music was very much a social act and was meant to be the soundtrack to a party. I've heard maybe 12 boots from before the end of '83, and it seems to me that when they were playing in Athens where probably half the crowd knew them personally, there was more energy than in, say, Nebraska where people were yelling "play some rock and roll." I love reading your comments that come from first-hand experience!
I love the early stuff because of the contrast...I couldn't believe it was REM when I first heard the Georgia Peaches boot...they were really fun and energetic, and I envy you for being there!
One night, that herky-jerky, exposed nervousness was so infectious, it caused me to jump on the table, drag my dance buddies along, and proceed to shread their punked out jeans! This was before R.E.M. even appeared in Atlanta!
OK, I actually remember that--swear to god. I think that was the night I dragged a buddy from my home town to Tyrone's to see the show. He was very strait-laced and shy, and I don't think he quiet knew what to make of it all. He was very tall, with long legs, and before the evening was over a very attractive young woman was dancing the whole mess around between those legs, as he sat on the sideline. The look on his face . . .
