The four founding members of R.E.M., Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, and Peter Buck, have not sat together for an interview in almost 30 years. However, in honor of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame tonight, they agreed to talk to CBS Morning’s Anthony Mason.
They talked about forming the band in 1980 at the University of Georgia. The good times together on the road and making music.
Bill Berry teared up when he talked about leaving the band after suffering two brain aneurysms on stage in 1995.
Finally, they discussed their 2011 split. And where they stand today as friends.
With that, Mason finally asked the question we all wanted to know: What would it take to get them back together? Mills said, “A comet!” Berry added, “Superglue.” But it was Buck who gave the real reason why it will never happen: “It’d never be as good.”
And to that, I say, how do you know? If The Police who hate each other can do it, why can’t you try? The fans would be shiny, happy people if you did! I would love it. And it is all about me because I don’t want to think it’s the end of R.E.M. as we know it.
