R.E.M. - "South Central Rain," 6 October 1983

[bmanhcb750]

Even Stipe knew back then how much of a douchbag letterman is!

[funkster007]

Lovin that Ric bass tone. Mills is such a melodic player too.

[deweypug]

They all look at Peter's amp at the beginning... it looks like he stepped on the plug and he caused it pop or something... pretty funny...

[Deadlydanish]

The album is very inexpensive compared to other albums. What a great reason to buy it!

[adrianh63]

Wow!

Un believable creativity thru time.....

I watched this on my TV

Now you ask "why not keep the band intact" & continue their art with outside collaborators weaving in / out of the line-up?????

Call it RE or R_M etc......truth will be revealed, in time...

[dashoos2006]

So long R.E.M., thanks for the music!

[cpren56]

Mike Mills looks like Scott Pilgrim

[kenjames64]

@cpren56 brilliant insight.

[deweypug]

@kenjames64 I'm thinking about starting an early REM/Feelies cover band, know anybody in New England that's interested?

[slandsecdriver]

@deweypug We started an REM "tribute" cover band project 2 weeks ago, with other Athens band covers as well (Pylon, Love Tractor, Guadalcanal Diary). In process of learning/practicing songs. Strong emphasis on the early IRS records stuff. Should be ready to gig in about 60 days. 3 of us attended University of Georgia and really dug the whole Athens scene at the time.

[deweypug]

When Mike Mills begins that backing vocals, the heavens just open up.... Simple, perfect!

[kenjames64]

@deweypug that descending line that Mills sings is gorgeous.

[themooddisorders]

Michael is so shy and so cute....I hope I bang into him one day

[1ofdiamonds]

Mike Mills is the Daddy. That boy knows his scales!

[wftjet]

I remember for a long time Stipe didn't talk in band interviews....and often with Nirvana, Kurt Cobain didn't talk. Come to think of it I have also seen Ramones interviews were Joey Ramone didn't talk either. Something about certain bands the frontman on stage doesn't want to speak publicly.

[rowdymax1]

Doesn't think this is live?... r u nutz? Ain't no backing track on this dude..or lip-synching.

[jhunterpdx]

I don't know if rock music will be as good as it was when REM was putting out albums like Murmur, Reckoning and Life's Rich Pageant.

[zachfitzz]

wow man thanks for posting this. awesome tune before they sucked ass.

[kenjames64]

@zachfitzz when did they start sucking ass? Was it UP? New Adventures? Monster? The last one? Just curious.

[zachfitzz]

@kenjames64

lol for me it was ``shiny happy people``which i think they regret to this day. thing is, even their worst stuff is still way better than most other bands best stuff.

[kenjames64]

@zachfitzz :)

[samgod]

@zachfitzz You know that "Shiny Happy People" is complete sarcasm, right? It's somewhat of a mockery of happy pop songs.

[kenjames64]

@samgod Yeah, it is reductive and flippant, but beneath the layer of sarcasm, I think Stipe was sincere. Why ask Kate Pierson, the Goddess of kitsch, to sing backup if the song was just a "aren't we cooler than Katrina and the Waves" song? What about "Everybody Hurts"? Stipe got less ironic as he got older.

[kenjames64]

@samgod Now, "The One I Love," I believe IS a mockery of love songs, but it's sort of obvious in the lyrics. "Shiny" stands on its own....hell they sang it with the Muppets!

[musicalvoyager71]

I love how Michael doesnt talk to david letterman. He's too far into the realm of his creative spirit to taint it with meaningless witty banter!! moco635 noticed.

[musicalvoyager71]

I love how Michael doesnt talk to david letterman. He's too far into the realm of his creative spirit to taint it with meaningless witty banter!!

[llenllenllenl]

Don't think this is live. But great song anyway.

[kenjames64]

Don't think this person has any idea what he's talking about. This is as live as it gets.

[llenllenllenl]

OK. You're right.

[comfortablynumbb]

@llenllenllenl are u kidding me? its definitely live, the whole song structure is different than the album version esp the vocals without lyrics

[llenllenllenl]

@comfortablynumbb

Yeah I know . Peter Buck's animated playing style threw me off.

[marcoamedrano]

Remember seeing this on TV in college. Wow, so many years ago and they're still going at it.

[moco635]

I noticed Michael Stipe did not partake in the presong banter w/DL..was that b/c he too shy?

[torisdad1]

Yes, like many performers, he is a master of conversation with 20,000 but not so good with 2.

When he was scheduled to sing in his sister's wedding in the early 90's, even after much REM success, he was TERRIFIED with the idea! I think he did it anyway...

[batterycock]

which ones the bald guy?

[AlexisFruitcake]

omg! mike mills!

[SpammerOvTheGods]

thankyouthankyouthankyou!! :D

#@!

[dartmouthhoop]

Can this really be 25+ years ago???? Brilliant...why youtube exists.