Georgias own R.E.M. inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
March 13, 2007 - The stellar career of Georgia-based rock band R.E.M was recognized Monday night, March 12, when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the 22nd annual induction dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards, vocals) and Michael Stipe (vocals) formed R.E.M (which stands for "Rapid Eye Movement") in Athens and released their first single, 'Radio Free Europe" in 1981. For the next 16 years R.E.M released 10 studio albums, and along the way the group's popularity rose dramatically from cult favorite to icon status in the rock music world. In 1997 drummer Bill Berry left the group, leaving Buck, Mills and Stipe to continue the R.E.M tradition as a three-man band. In early 2005 Warner Bros. released R.E.M.'s entire catalog in a CD/DVD format and in September of last year, I.R.S./Capitol released, And I Feel Fine...the Best of the I.R.S. Years, 1982-1987, a compilation of work from the band's early years. Related Sites: Official Site for R.E.M. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's R.E.M Bio and Timeline AllMusic.com's R.E.M Bio