R.E.M. were the first American alternative rock band to break through to mainstream success without compromising their sound. Michael Stipe's mumbled, enigmatic vocals, Peter Buck's jangly Rickenbacker guitar, Mike Mills's melodic bass, and Bill Berry's steady drumming created a sound that was simultaneously accessible and mysterious.
Their IRS Records years built a devoted following through college radio; their Warner Bros. years turned them into one of the biggest bands in the world. They quit in 2011 with their dignity intact, a rarity in rock.
Key Albums
A debut of foggy beauty that essentially invented college rock.
Gorgeous, string-laden melancholy. 'Everybody Hurts' and 'Man on the Moon.'
The first mainstream breakthrough. 'The One I Love' cracked the top ten.
Why They Matter
R.E.M. proved that an indie band could achieve massive commercial success on its own terms, creating the template that every alternative band from Nirvana onward would follow.