Last month we brought you early word of a giant 9-disc R.E.M. boxed set filled with BBC recordings, and while it’s still not officially announced — though it seems we’re close to that happening — we can now offer full details and a complete tracklist for the package. Full details right here.
Though not officially announced, it appears a major archival project is in the works from R.E.M.: a nine-disc CD/DVD boxed set of BBC recordings that currently is listed for pre-order via Amazon in the U.K., along with a 2LP “best of” set culled from that larger collection. We’ll pass on more details as they emerge.
Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe this morning debuted a short, 40-second song called “Future, If Future” — featuring his vocals over minimal electronic accompaniment — ahead of this morning March For Our Lives gun-control events across the country. Hear the full song right here.
Three-quarters of R.E.M. — Peter Buck, Mike Mills and drummer-turned-farmer Bill Berry — reunited onstage tonight in Portland, Ore., at the second of two benefit concerts for Scott McCaughey, the longtime R.E.M. sideman who suffered a stroke in November. See video from the reunion performances here.
A host of musicians — including R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills, as well as Alejandro Escovedo, members of Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists, Drive-By Truckers and The Shins, and more — will perform two concerts in Portland, Ore., next month to raise money for Scott McCaughey, who suffered a stroke last month.
R.E.M. has followed up the recent release of its deluxe multi-disc expanded reissue of 1992’s Automatic For the People with a new 24-minute mini-documentary about the making of that record, a film called “Automatic Unearthed” that is streaming on YouTube. Watch the full program right here.
R.E.M. famously only performed a single concert in support of Automatic For the People, a benefit for Greenpeace at the 40 Watt Club in the band’s hometown of Athens, Ga., on Nov. 19, 1992. Audio from that show, previously issued as B-sides, is included as a bonus on the band’s recent Automatic reissue.
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Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
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Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 