Yes, the band does take its name from the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, the phase in which we dream. This is totally appropriate, for the band's sound has a muffled texture, the lyrics are not quite distinguishable, and...
[more]Yes, the band does take its name from the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, the phase in which we dream. This is totally appropriate, for the band's sound has a muffled texture, the lyrics are not quite distinguishable, and when decipherable, are opaque in meaning. This creates a dreamy yet creative experience for the listener, who is invited to let his or her imagination run with whatever suggestive theme or idea R.E.M. implants.
Coming together around the University of Georgia at Athens, the members of the band, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry, began, in 1979, to rehearse in an old church. The release of the first full-length album "Murmur" (1983) put R.E.M. on the map. What has followed has been the development of a dynasty, as R.E.M. has influenced and collaborated with other important bands such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and 10,000 Maniacs. The band, led by Michael Stipe, has also persistently pushed an activist program, supporting AIDS awareness, feminism, animal rights, Greenpeace, and various public service projects and benefits.
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