About Nicholas Pemberton Expertise I have been an R.E.M. fan for at least 7 years now. I have all their LPs, over 30 singles, 7 videos, and 5 books, so I am sure that I can answer any question related to the music of REM itself. I also am sort of familiar with REM band bios, so I most likely can answer any question about a band member.
Experience I am very familiar with the work of R.E.M. I have read several books and articles about them. I also frequent the different music news sites to get up to date information on what they are working on. I have been an expert on expertcentral.com, and have successfully answered every question asked of me.
Organizations I am a member of the R.E.M. fanclub. I am also on a really good R.E.M. list group. I was also an expert on expertcentral.com.
Publications No where.
Education/Credentials Some college.
Awards and Honors American Legion Award in eighth grade, but that has nothing to do with R.E.M.
Expert: Nicholas Pemberton Date: 9/4/2001 Subject: R.E.M.
Question Hi,
Well I'm sort of a new R.E.M. fan (I own Automatic for the People, Green, Up and Reveal) Anyway, I was wondering if you could give me some basic info on the band like how they hooked up, some personal info. Are all their albums available on CD? Which are the best? And which member is which (besides Michael Stipe I can't really identify the others). Why did Billy Berry leave? Is Peter Buck related to the late Robert Buck of 10,000 Maniacs and is it true that Michael Stipe is gay? Sorry for the quantity of questions and thanks,
Ophir
Answer The story of R.E.M. goes back to Athens, GA in the late 1970s. John Michael Stipe met Peter Buck at a record store that Buck worked at. Stipe and Buck met Mike Mills and Bill Berry (Berry and Mills had played in a band together) at a party. The four began working together in an old church where they lived with a bunch of other people. They played their first show on April 6, 1980 at a birthday party, according to rumor, under the name "Twisted Kites". It was not until several weeks later that they changed their name to "R.E.M." after flipping through an old medical dictionary. R.E.M. means "rapid eye movement" which occurs during sleep. They played/practiced/toured more, signed with IRS records and the rest is pretty much history.
Are of their albums are on CD, even their EP "Chronic Town" can be found on the b-side compilation CD "Dead Letter Office". As for which CD is their best, "Out Of Time" is still the number one selling R.E.M. CD. My own personal opinion is that "Monster" is their best CD. After "Monster", I enjoy "Document", "Murmur", and "New Adventures In Hifi".
As for which member is which, Michael Stipe is the lyricist/vocalist, Peter Buck plays guitar, Mike Mills plays bass/piano, and Bill Berry played the drums. Currently on drums is Joey Waronker who played drums for Beck. Berry left after he decided that music was not what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Most of his decision making came from his near death experience with a brain aneurysm during the Monster tour. Peter Buck is not related to the late Robert Buck. As for Michael Stipe being gay, he is currently in a relationship with a man, but he has been in relationships with women (Natalie Merchant and Michael used to be an item). I guess this means that he's bisexual, but Stipe refuses to give his sexuality a title. I hope that makes sense.
I believe that answers most of your questions. If you have anymore, feel free to ask.
