The Name of This Band Is R.E.M.

A Biography

By: Peter Ames Carlin

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE • An electrifying cultural biography of the greatest and last American rock band of the millennium, whose music ignited a generation—and reasserted the power of rock and roll

"[Carlin's] unique gift for capturing the sweep and tenor of a cultural moment...is here on brilliant display." —Michael Chabon

In the spring of 1980, an unexpected group of musical eccentrics came together to play their very first performance at a college party in Athens, Georgia. Within a few short years, they had taken over the world – with smash records like Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Monster and Green. Raw, outrageous, and expressive, R.E.M.’s distinctive musical flair was unmatched, and a string of mega-successes solidified them as generational spokesmen. In the tumultuous transition between the wide-open 80s and the anxiety of the early 90s, R.E.M. challenged the corporate and social order, chasing a vision and cultivating a magnetic, transgressive sound.

In this rich, intimate biography, critically acclaimed author Peter Ames Carlin looks beyond the sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll to open a window into the fascinating lives of four college friends – Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry – who stuck together at any cost, until the end. Deeply descriptive and remarkably poetic, steeped in 80s and 90s nostalgia, The Name of This Band is R.E.M. paints a cultural history of the commercial peak and near-total collapse of a great music era, and the story of the generation that came of age at the apotheosis of rock.

Historical account we knew but nice to revisit

Narrator is terrible. His inflections are worse. I thought my voice was terrible, but I do not do voice over. I’m sure he is a nice guy and if he is, I’m sorry, but maybe do something else. REM=may life’s soundtrack

Nothing is Cool

I remember my late father being into REM when I was a 12 or 13 year old. ‘Automatic For the People’ was on heavy rotation in our house. Such a fantastic listen. Even for the casual fan, this made me a believer. Long live REM!

A great story about an influential band

As a long time REM fan, I observed their stylistic and other changes and wanted to know more. This a was the perfect solution. The music world was better with them in it, and at least they left us a legacy to return to again and again. This book documents it well.

A Must!!

Beautifully written & read. It felt like meeting an old friend & realizing just how much you’ve missed them. I paused with the discussion of each new album release and listened to them in their entirety just to immerse myself in the history of the band. There were late albums I had not listened to before & others i’ve lingered over for weeks. Highly recommend!!!

Great Guys

I've loved this band since my youth. As a Southerner, I'm proud that this band came out of Georgia. But after listening to this biography of the band, I love and respect REM even more. After I listened to Bono's audio memoir, I found U2 a little more pretentious and insufferable. But this narrative gave me a deeper respect for this quirky alternative band that didn't change to meet culture but instead changed culture and met it halfway.

Fantastic. Take REM Spotify Breaks while you listen.

I am not a music enthusiast. I never purchased an album or went to one of their concerts. I missed out, but not any more. You will love this listen.

Solid Rock Biography

I am a fan of REM and I found this book informative and I learned a lot about the band I did not know.

Great insights into the band members’ relationships

I enjoyed this account of one of my favorite bands of all time. My only criticism is the excruciating detail with every interview and discussion. I didn’t need to know the time and place of every one of the band members’ utterances.

Thoroughly interesting

The voice of the narrator is really hard to take. It could’ve been much more enjoyable.

Great Book About a Great Band!

Well written and well read. If you’re even a little curious about R.E.M. you should definitely check it out.