The Story of R.E.M.
New Edition
From cult act of the 1980s to international success story of the 1990s, R.E.M. has become the most acclaimed American group of their generation. In a music world that celebrates carefully the cultivated image and worships at the altar of over-production, R.E.M.'s determination to ignore the pre-ordained rules and follow their artistic instinct instead has paid off beyond even their own wildest dreams.
In this new edition of the first full biography of R.E.M., Tony Fletcher follows the group's story from its roots in the college town of Athens, Georgia, through the years of incessant touring and critical praise that accompanied their early albums, up to the eventual commercial breakthrough and multi-platinum sales of 'Out Of Time', 'Automatic For The People' and 'Monster'. Along with analysis of R.E.M.'s considerable musical and visual catalogue, much attention is paid to the group's uncompromising political idealism and endearing modest honest.
Meticulously researched and drawing upon dozens of interviews with friends, associates and the collaboration of the band themselves, 'Remarks' is not just the account of one group's rise to fame but the story of American rock in the last fifteen years and a subtle lesson in how to beat the system.
Fully illustrated with rare photographs from R.E.M.'s personal archives, 'Remarks' includes a comprehensive discography.