Why Did Rem Break Up? R.E.M. Rock Band
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Updated Jun 14, 2024
Why Did Rem Break Up?
R.E.M. broke up because their drummer, Bill Berry, decided to leave the band in 1997 after having a brain aneurysm while they were touring in Europe. Although he recovered from surgery, Berry felt it was time to step away from the music industry and live a quieter life as a farmer.
This decision led to the remaining members of R.E.M. continuing without him for several years, but they eventually decided to permanently disband, marking the end of their music journey together.
R.E.M. Rock Band
R.E.M. was a famous rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980. The members were Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. They were known for their unique sound, with ringing guitar melodies and distinctive vocals. Their first big hit was "The One I Love" in 1987. Bill Berry left the band in 1997, but they continued making music until 2011. They sold over 90 million albums worldwide. The band reunited briefly in 2024.
R.E.M. Band Members
| Member | Instrumentation | Years Active |
| Bill Berry | Drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional bass and keyboards | 1980–1997; 2003–2007; 2024 (occasional) |
| Peter Buck | Lead guitar, mandolin, banjo, occasional bass, keyboards, drums | 1980–2011; 2024 |
| Mike Mills | Bass, keyboards, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals, guitar | 1980–2011; 2024 |
| Michael Stipe | Lead vocals, occasional harmonica, percussion, guitar | 1980–2011; 2024 |
R.E.M. Discography
| Studio Album | Release Year |
| Murmur | 1983 |
| Reckoning | 1984 |
| Fables of the Reconstruction | 1985 |
| Lifes Rich Pageant | 1986 |
| Document | 1987 |
| Green | 1988 |
| Out of Time | 1991 |
| Automatic for the People | 1992 |
| Monster | 1994 |
| New Adventures in Hi-Fi | 1996 |
| Up | 1998 |
| Reveal | 2001 |
| Around the Sun | 2004 |
| Accelerate | 2008 |
| Collapse into Now | 2011 |
