REM play a bowling alley

[monster]

R.E.M. PLAY SURPRISE SHOW IN ATHENS! (www.remhq.com)

The band put together an impromptu performance tonight in Athens at R.E.M guitar tech Dewitt Burton's wedding reception. Roughly three-hundred people packed into a tiny arcade room at the bowling alley where the reception was held as Peter, Michael, Mike, and Bill Berry ripped through a scorching seven-song set that included "Sitting Still," "Rockville," "Wolves, Lower," "Begin the Begin," "The One I Love," "Permanent Vacation," and "Radio Free Europe." It was the first time the original lineup has performed together since a concert in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the In Time tour in 2003. Michael Stipe toasted the bride and groom, Jackie and Dewitt, on several occasions throughout the set as the reception guests yelled request upon request at the band--"Begin the Begin" was requested by the bride. Asked what he thought about the set and the evening, Mike Mills commented that "It was awesome to look behind me and see Bill on drums."

A good time was had by all, with chillbumps, phone cameras, cold beer and throat lumps all co-mingling!

Kingpins Set List, October 8th, Athens, GA:

Sitting Still
Rockville (Mike Mills on vocals)
Wolves, Lower
Begin the Begin
The One I Love
Permanent Vacation
Radio Free Europe

[Pints]

What a great set!

[Claymore]

http://www.remhq.com/news/viewphoto.html?url=../shared_assets/viewphoto.php?id=2772

Damn, this brought back memories. I saw them in a very similar setting - the old 9:30 Club in DC- back in late '82.

I feel very old now.

[monster]

Someone posted video of "Begin the Begin" on an REM message board, but you can barely hear a thing due to static. Still is cool to see them literally crammed in a corner.

[Cascarino's Pizzeria]

I don't know what to make of this but........Mike Mills was on a Golf Channel show getting golf tips. I like golf and all but it didn't seem right.

[yossarian]

I don't know what to make of this but........Mike Mills was on a Golf Channel show getting golf tips. I like golf and all but it didn't seem right.

He and Bill Berry are both golf addicts.

[BillQ]

Please Bill, come out of retirement and rejoin the band. REM hasn't been the same without you.

[yossarian]

Please Bill, come out of retirement and rejoin the band. REM hasn't been the same without you.

As a fan of REM since 1983....I wholeheartedly agree. IMHO, it's not a coincidence that "New Adventures..." was the last REM record with Berry and the last one that is great start to finish. After that....a few songs here and there are good but that's it.

By way of meaningless anecdote....one of Bill's nephews plays on my 7 a side team. I keep bugging him to tell Bill to re-join the band. He just laughs.

They still put on a heck of a live show, however, even without Bill.