From R.E.M. HQ today:

“To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.” R.E.M.

After a while, it seemed like the newer R.E.M. albums all blurred together, but Automatic for the People, Life’s Rich Pageant, Document and even Monster played a huge part in my life growing up. I can’t remember how many times we saw them in concert (maybe just once), but I’ll never forget secretly following Stipey around the British Museum while trying not to look too much like a star-struck fan.

Cheers to you, Messrs. Stipe, Buck and Mills!