R.E.M. tours
Encyclopedia
The following is a listing of R.E.M.
tours.
, the tour was arranged by Bill Berry
, and its main aim was to help raise the necessary funds to keep the band operating. The tour was in support of their "Radio Free Europe
" single, which was to be released on David Hibbert's Hib-Tone
label in July 1981.
The tour kicked off on March 26 1981 at K. O. Jam's in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
.
, began in San Diego, California
. It finished in Florida four months later.
got underway in March. The band made their first live television appearance during the tour, on Late Night with David Letterman
on October 6. The tour concluded in Europe in late November.
, with a tour titled the "Little America tour" ("Little America" being a track on the album). They tour their homeland between June and November, before visiting Asia for the first time in mid-November. This was followed with a few more shows in the UK and Norway during late November and early January 1985.
in June, the band traveled to Europe. The following month, they returned to North America for a two-month tour. The "Reconstruction I" tour began in Oregon
in July and ended in New Jersey
in August.
October's "Reconstruction II" tour took the band back to Europe, beginning in Holland and ending in Scotland.
In November, "Reconstruction III" commenced in Colorado.
"Green World Tour Part II."
A concert video called Tourfilm
is a compilation of footage from various locations on these tours.
R.E.M. did not tour to support either 1991's Out of Time
or the following year's Automatic for the People
.
in Switzerland in March. It resumed in May in Mountain View, California
.
The concert video Road Movie
is a compilation of footage taken from the final three nights of the tour, in Atlanta, Georgia
.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
, the band's tenth studio album, was released without a supporting tour. The album itself was largely recorded during sound checks for shows on the Monster tour.
, the band changed their mind. A small television-and-radio tour around North America and Europe occurred between October and December.
The concert video Perfect Square
was taken from footage captured from a show in Wiesbaden
, Germany
on this tour.
began in Europe in September. Prior to the release of the album, the band partook in the political "Vote for Change" tour, which included shows in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Washington, D.C.
A post-album tour commenced in October in North America.
A concert CD/DVD featuring footage from the final shows of this tour in Dublin titled R.E.M. Live
was released in 2007.
Tour", which took place between March and November 2008.
In 2007, before the release of Accelerate and the supporting tour behind it in 2008, R.E.M. held five night "rehearsals" in front of a live audience at The Olympia in Dublin to test out new material from Accelerate and to revisit and perform old favorites, many of which hadn't been played live in nearly two decades. The resulting live album and DVD, Live at The Olympia
, was released in 2009.
CDs and Digital Releases
This list includes only official releases made up exclusively and entirely of live performances. Various other live performances by R.E.M. can be found as B-sides
, compilation tracks, bonus tracks, promotional EPs, bootlegs, etc.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
tours.
| Contents References |
1981
R.E.M. traveled extensively, mostly around the Deep South, during their first few years of being a unit. Their first real, albeit relatively local tour took place in 1981. Mistakenly nicknamed "Rapid.Eye.Movement.Tour.1981" by the band's manager at the time, Jefferson HoltJefferson Holt
Jefferson Holt is the founder of and former manager of rock band R.E.M., often referred to as the band's "fifth member," from 1981-1996.In 1996, Holt and R.E.M. parted ways. When asked about leaving the band he offered this statement to Chuck Philips, L.A.Times Staff Writer:"I've agreed to keep...
, the tour was arranged by Bill Berry
Bill Berry
William "Bill" Thomas Berry is a retired American musician, multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. In addition to his drumming duties, Berry played many other instruments including guitar, bass guitar, and piano, both for songwriting and on R.E.M....
, and its main aim was to help raise the necessary funds to keep the band operating. The tour was in support of their "Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe (song)
"Radio Free Europe" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. "Radio Free Europe" was released as R.E.M.'s debut single on the short-lived independent record label Hib-Tone in 1981...
" single, which was to be released on David Hibbert's Hib-Tone
Hib-Tone
Hib-Tone is an American recording label, based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by Jonny Hibbert, a law student at Woodrow Wilson College of Law, in 1981. The label has released eight records, including two full-length albums by the bands Design and RF and the Radar Angels...
label in July 1981.
The tour kicked off on March 26 1981 at K. O. Jam's in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
.
1982
In August, the band's first true national tour, in support of Chronic TownChronic Town
Chronic Town is the debut EP by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1982 on I.R.S. Records. Chronic Town is the first illustration of R.E.M.'s signature musical style: jangling guitars, chords played in arpeggio, murmured vocals, and obscure lyrics.-Background and recording:After...
, began in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. It finished in Florida four months later.
1983
A tour in support of MurmurMurmur (album)
Murmur is the debut album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1983 on I.R.S. Records. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its sound, defined by singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bassist Mike Mills' melodic...
got underway in March. The band made their first live television appearance during the tour, on Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
on October 6. The tour concluded in Europe in late November.
1984
R.E.M. returned to Europe in April 1984, this time in support of their second studio album, ReckoningReckoning (R.E.M. album)
Reckoning is the second album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1984 by I.R.S. Records. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984...
, with a tour titled the "Little America tour" ("Little America" being a track on the album). They tour their homeland between June and November, before visiting Asia for the first time in mid-November. This was followed with a few more shows in the UK and Norway during late November and early January 1985.
1985
A "Pre-Construction" tour in April and May took the band around several eastern states. After the release of Fables of the ReconstructionFables of the Reconstruction
Fables of the Reconstruction, also known as Reconstruction of the Fables, is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on the I.R.S...
in June, the band traveled to Europe. The following month, they returned to North America for a two-month tour. The "Reconstruction I" tour began in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in July and ended in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in August.
October's "Reconstruction II" tour took the band back to Europe, beginning in Holland and ending in Scotland.
In November, "Reconstruction III" commenced in Colorado.
1989
"Green World Tour Part I.""Green World Tour Part II."
A concert video called Tourfilm
Tourfilm
Tourfilm is a documentary-style concert film by American rock band R.E.M. The film chronicles the band's 1989 Green tour of North America...
is a compilation of footage from various locations on these tours.
R.E.M. did not tour to support either 1991's Out of Time
Out of Time (album)
Out of Time is the seventh album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on Warner Bros. Records in 1991. With Out of Time R.E.M.'s status grew from that of a cult band to a massive international act. The record topped the album sales charts in both the U.S...
or the following year's Automatic for the People
Automatic for the People
Automatic for the People is the eighth album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1992 on Warner Bros. Records. While R.E.M...
.
1995
"Monster Tour." The tour was postponed after Bill Berry's on-stage aneurysmAneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
in Switzerland in March. It resumed in May in Mountain View, California
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
.
The concert video Road Movie
Road Movie
Road Movie is a 2002 South Korean film about a love triangle among a woman, a man who loves her, and a gay man who loves him. Living on the margins of society, they go on a road trip together.- Cast :* Hwang Jung-min ... Dae-shik...
is a compilation of footage taken from the final three nights of the tour, in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is the tenth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was their fifth major label release for Warner Bros. Records, released on September 9, 1996, in Europe and Australia and the following day in the United States...
, the band's tenth studio album, was released without a supporting tour. The album itself was largely recorded during sound checks for shows on the Monster tour.
1998
After initially stating they would not tour behind this year's UpUp (R.E.M. album)
Up is the 11th album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was the band's first album without original drummer Bill Berry, who left the group amicably in October 1997 to pursue his own interests. In his place, R.E.M...
, the band changed their mind. A small television-and-radio tour around North America and Europe occurred between October and December.
1999
A larger, six-month tour around the same continents began in February in Europe. The North American leg began in August.2001
Supporting Reveal, R.E.M. undertook a small tour that took in New York City, Toronto, Japan, Australia and California.2003
A tour in support of the band's Warner Bros. compilation In Time took place in Europe between June and August, then in North America between August and October.The concert video Perfect Square
Perfect Square
Perfect Square is a video recording of a concert by rock band R.E.M., filmed on 19 July 2003 at the Bowling Green in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was released in DVD format on the Warner Brothers label on March 9, 2004....
was taken from footage captured from a show in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on this tour.
2004
A promo tour for Around the SunAround the Sun
Around the Sun is the 13th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 2004.-Description:"The Outsiders" features a guest appearance by rapper Q-Tip. When performed live, Michael Stipe carries out the rap, as he does on a later b-side release of the song."Final Straw" is...
began in Europe in September. Prior to the release of the album, the band partook in the political "Vote for Change" tour, which included shows in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Washington, D.C.
A post-album tour commenced in October in North America.
2005
A European tour in support of Around the Sun began in Europe, then extended to South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. The final leg of the tour took the band back to Europe.A concert CD/DVD featuring footage from the final shows of this tour in Dublin titled R.E.M. Live
R.E.M. Live
R.E.M. Live is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the Around the World Tour in support of their thirteenth studio album Around the Sun released in late 2004...
was released in 2007.
2007/2008
R.E.M.'s final tour was the "AccelerateAccelerate (R.E.M. album)
Accelerate is the 14th studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate was intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun. R.E.M...
Tour", which took place between March and November 2008.
In 2007, before the release of Accelerate and the supporting tour behind it in 2008, R.E.M. held five night "rehearsals" in front of a live audience at The Olympia in Dublin to test out new material from Accelerate and to revisit and perform old favorites, many of which hadn't been played live in nearly two decades. The resulting live album and DVD, Live at The Olympia
Live at The Olympia
Live at The Olympia is a live album by American alternative rock band R.E.M.. It is a recording of five-night residency the band held at Dublin, Ireland's Olympia Theatre between June 30 and July 5, 2007, and released on October 27, 2009. In this series of "working rehearsals" many songs on...
, was released in 2009.
Live releases
Videos and DVDs- TourfilmTourfilmTourfilm is a documentary-style concert film by American rock band R.E.M. The film chronicles the band's 1989 Green tour of North America...
(1990) - Road MovieRoad MovieRoad Movie is a 2002 South Korean film about a love triangle among a woman, a man who loves her, and a gay man who loves him. Living on the margins of society, they go on a road trip together.- Cast :* Hwang Jung-min ... Dae-shik...
(1996) - Perfect SquarePerfect SquarePerfect Square is a video recording of a concert by rock band R.E.M., filmed on 19 July 2003 at the Bowling Green in Wiesbaden, Germany. It was released in DVD format on the Warner Brothers label on March 9, 2004....
(2004) - R.E.M. LiveR.E.M. LiveR.E.M. Live is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the Around the World Tour in support of their thirteenth studio album Around the Sun released in late 2004...
(2007) - Live at The Olympia (This Is Not a Show)Live at The OlympiaLive at The Olympia is a live album by American alternative rock band R.E.M.. It is a recording of five-night residency the band held at Dublin, Ireland's Olympia Theatre between June 30 and July 5, 2007, and released on October 27, 2009. In this series of "working rehearsals" many songs on...
(2009)
CDs and Digital Releases
- Vancouver Rehearsal TapesVancouver Rehearsal TapesVancouver Rehearsal Tapes is an iTunes-exclusive EP released by the American rock band R.E.M. on October 14, 2003. The band recorded several songs in Vancouver on May 10, 2003 as a warm-up for their tour promoting In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003...
(2003) - R.E.M. LiveR.E.M. LiveR.E.M. Live is a live album from R.E.M., recorded at the Point Theatre, Dublin, on February 26 and 27, 2005, the closing nights of the winter European leg of the Around the World Tour in support of their thirteenth studio album Around the Sun released in late 2004...
(2007) - Live from London Live from London (R.E.M. album)Live from London is an album from R.E.M. released exclusively on iTunes on March 26, 2008, at the Apple Store in London, United Kingdom. It is one of several exclusive releases in the Live from London series.-Track listing:...
(2008) - Live at Larry's Hide-AwayMurmur (album)Murmur is the debut album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1983 on I.R.S. Records. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its sound, defined by singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bassist Mike Mills' melodic...
(Murmur 2008 Deluxe Edition bonus disc) - Live at the Aragon BallroomReckoning (R.E.M. album)Reckoning is the second album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1984 by I.R.S. Records. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984...
(Reckoning 2009 Deluxe Edition bonus disc) - Live at The OlympiaLive at The OlympiaLive at The Olympia is a live album by American alternative rock band R.E.M.. It is a recording of five-night residency the band held at Dublin, Ireland's Olympia Theatre between June 30 and July 5, 2007, and released on October 27, 2009. In this series of "working rehearsals" many songs on...
(2009)
This list includes only official releases made up exclusively and entirely of live performances. Various other live performances by R.E.M. can be found as B-sides
B-Sides
B-Sides is an iTunes-exclusive album from the Coventry Trio The Enemy, consisting of ten songs that were B-sides to the single releases from their debut album We'll Live and Die in These Towns.-Track list:#Fear Killed the Youth of Our Nation...
, compilation tracks, bonus tracks, promotional EPs, bootlegs, etc.