REM Guitarist Takes Aim At Bandmates

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck has a few choice words for his bandmates: Told you so.

The band is enjoying a creative resurgence with its new album, "Accelerate," which recently debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. But its 2004 predecessor, "Around the SunSun," was a critical and commercial disappointment, peaking at No. 13.

Buck thinks he knows why: Frontman Michael Stipe and bass player Mike Mills liked to spend endless months jamming in the studio.

"I never liked that," Buck recalled in a recent interview. "I always complained and I always suggested that we work quicker and more spontaneously. The other guys weren't into it.

"I think maybe the reception ('Around the Sun') got kind of shocked them and made them realize ... I was right, we can't work like this any longer."

And if Buck has his way, R.E.M. will never take the long, exacting route again. He says he already has "a ton of songs" written for R.E.M.'s next album.

"I think everyone agrees that ("Accelerate") is really a strong record and it's strong because of the way we approached it. So when we start making the next record, I think this is the way to at least start doing it."

R.E.M. will promote the album with a North American tour that begins on May 23 at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, B.C.

Credits for the info to Yahoo! News.

Comments

[Bulls.On.Parade]

I got tickets to see them in June in Toronto, I'm stoked. Their new album is certainly no Automatic for the People but it's still quite good.

[stevezy]

I'm seeing them in June in MA, I just hope they don't beat each other up on stage or break up before the concert.

[sucay]

i hate how they work the 'news' headlines, id sue them for lying and picking words out of context leading to false announcement.

[Rockwolf]

Around the SunSun?

[Tallman1984]

I don't know if I, or anybody else for that matter, could consider Buck's statements as 'slamming R.E.M.'. Way to get people to respond to your link, UG. I'd expect misleading headlines from the likes of Us Weekly or Poptouch, but you seem to have taken that department to new heights. Kudos. I guess you could post a much more accurate headline like 'R.E.M. Guitarist Explains Band's New Direction' but where's the tabloid factor in that, right? I guess you assume your readers only respond to negative matters regarding their favorite bands. How presumptuous.

[blaze2thekings]

sucay wrote:

i hate how they work the 'news' headlines, id sue them for lying and picking words out of context leading to false announcement.

thats all the media does, so learn that the media is 100% bullshit about 90% of the time

[MoFly41]

Tallman1984 wrote:

I don't know if I, or anybody else for that matter, could consider Buck's statements as 'slamming R.E.M.'. Way to get people to respond to your link, UG. I'd expect misleading headlines from the likes of Us Weekly or Poptouch, but you seem to have taken that department to new heights. Kudos. I guess you could post a much more accurate headline like 'R.E.M. Guitarist Explains Band's New Direction' but where's the tabloid factor in that, right? I guess you assume your readers only respond to negative matters regarding their favorite bands. How presumptuous.

Wow. Get pissed. I think a lot of people need to give UG a break. As a guitar player, I'm happy that there is a site that offers what this place does.
Anyway, nowhere in the article does it give the impression that Buck slammed his band mates, but it is clear that Buck is somewhat perturbed with how Stipe and Mills have handled the way they write songs. And clearly you are unfamiliar with the way Peter Buck is. He's a great guitar player and writer,but he is a tool who would come out and be this way. See, its not that bad. The world (and UG) isn't against you Tallman.

[ERNZOA]

Yeah this is a terrible headline, in about every interview I've read lately all the band members highlight how open and honest they are with each other. Although this is a good news article, the title implies that they are about to break up or something.

[_A.D.I.D.A.S._]

MoFly41 wrote:

Tallman1984 wrote:

I don't know if I, or anybody else for that matter, could consider Buck's statements as 'slamming R.E.M.'. Way to get people to respond to your link, UG. I'd expect misleading headlines from the likes of Us Weekly or Poptouch, but you seem to have taken that department to new heights. Kudos. I guess you could post a much more accurate headline like 'R.E.M. Guitarist Explains Band's New Direction' but where's the tabloid factor in that, right? I guess you assume your readers only respond to negative matters regarding their favorite bands. How presumptuous.

Wow. Get pissed. I think a lot of people need to give UG a break. As a guitar player, I'm happy that there is a site that offers what this place does.
Anyway, nowhere in the article does it give the impression that Buck slammed his band mates, but it is clear that Buck is somewhat perturbed with how Stipe and Mills have handled the way they write songs. And clearly you are unfamiliar with the way Peter Buck is. He's a great guitar player and writer,but he is a tool who would come out and be this way. See, its not that bad. The world (and UG) isn't against you Tallman.

He's talking about how UG used a misleading headline that was meant to attract people to it. It worked for me, and now I'm pissed. Shame on you UG. I'd quit going to this site, but no other tab site has tabs so well organized (or even tabs at all, thanks MPAA) to my liking.

[Tallman1984]

MoFly41 wrote:

Wow. Get pissed.

Actually, I'm not. But thanks for asking.

MoFly41 wrote:
Anyway, nowhere in the article does it give the impression that Buck slammed his band mates,

I know. That's the point I'm making.

MoFly41 wrote:And clearly you are unfamiliar with the way Peter Buck is.

Whether I'm familiar with him or not, what does that have to do with UG's misrepresenting headline?

MoFly41 The world (and UG) isn't against you Tallman.

Who said it was, MoFly? I only said UG wrote a misleading headline. And from the looks of things, I'm not the only person who believes that.

[gwitersnamps]

Didn't Buck leave the band? Or was that another guitarist?

[RadioMuse]

No guitarist has left REM. Their original drummer, Bill Berry, left after the Monster tour due to a brain aneurysm experienced on state. I'm glad they made this shift in direction; though I'm not sure it's the best solution for all future records. There has to be a mix of spontaneous composition and calculated 'fleshing out' to make songs that really stand the test of time.

Checked. Try not make this in to a huge argument on headlines.

[les_paul_01]

gwitersnamps wrote:

Didn't Buck leave the band? Or was that another guitarist?

nup.

buck was the 1st R.E.M guitarist.

and though i hate to see exaggerated headlines, you have to admit "R.E.M guitarist takes aim at bandmates" was a slighly more exciting headline than, say ,"R.E.M guitarist happy with new direction", which would have been closer to the actual story.

and i agree, the new record is great.

[bmxsulli]

Tallman1984 wrote:

MoFly41 wrote:

Wow. Get pissed.

Actually, I'm not. But thanks for asking.

MoFly41 wrote:
Anyway, nowhere in the article does it give the impression that Buck slammed his band mates,

I know. That's the point I'm making.

MoFly41 wrote:And clearly you are unfamiliar with the way Peter Buck is.

Whether I'm familiar with him or not, what does that have to do with UG's misrepresenting headline?

MoFly41 The world (and UG) isn't against you Tallman.

Who said it was, MoFly? I only said UG wrote a misleading headline. And from the looks of things, I'm not the only person who believes that.

..could be wrong but im pretty sure MoFly41 was saying you may have overreacted a little bit. you can just click 'back' and you'll be on the last page you know?

[fitter.happier.]

dear lord, does anyone else smell a breakup?

[hiddeninromance]

I agree with Tallman
This is a complete sensalisation for popular appeal...
It is getting to be quite a popular method in practice here...
UG a Tabloid
x

[timi_hendrix]

sucay wrote:

i hate how they work the 'news' headlines, id sue them for lying and picking words out of context leading to false announcement.

Let me guess, you're american.

I'd get annoyed with jamming out songs for ages in a studio, but then I wouldn't want to rush it either.