Kraj benda R.E.M. / R.E.M. announce split

Članovi legendarnog benda R.E.M. objavili su na svom zvaničnom sajtu da prekidaju sa radom nakon 31 godine postojanja grupe. Ovi muzičari su se u poruci zahvalili, pre svega, svojim fanovima na dugogodišnjoj podršci:

"Fanovima i prijateljima: Kao R.E.M. i kao dugogodišnji prijatelji i saradnici odlučili smo da je došlo vreme da bend prekine sa radom. Odlazimo sa osećajem zahvalnosti, kompletnosti i zaprepašćenosti svime što smo do sada postigli. Svima koji su nekada bili dirnuti našom muzikom ogromno hvala na slušanju", stoji u poruci.

Basista, Mike Mills, kaže da su im nedavni projekti pomogli da donesu ovu odluku.

"Tokom naše poslednje turneje i rada na albumu 'Collapse Into Now' i kolekciji naših najvećih hitova, pitali smo se šta je sledeće? Shvatili smo da su poslednje tri decenije za nas bile pakleno putovanje tako da su te pesme nekako podvukle prirodnu granicu nakon 31 godine rada".

Frontmen benda, Michael Stipe, dodaje:

"Mudar čovek je jednom rekao - da bi se dobro proveo na žurkama, treba da znaš kada je pravo vreme da odeš. Zajedno smo izgradili nešto izvanredno i sada je vreme da to napustimo. Nadam se da naši fanovi razumeju da ovo nije bila laka odluka. Sve ima svoj kraj, a mi smo želeli da ovo uradimo ispravno, na naš način".

R.E.M. su objavili 15 albuma od kojih je najuspešniji "Automatic for the People" iz 1992. godine. Iza sebe su ostavili nekoliko evergrin hitova poput "Losing My Religion", "Everybody Hurts" i "Shiny Happy People". 2006. godine postali su deo Rock & Roll Dvorane slavnih. Do danas su prodali preko 85 miliona albuma širom sveta.

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Members of an legendary band R.E.M. have announced a split after 31 year of career. These musicians have given thanks to their fans, above all, for sticking with them all these years:

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening".

A basist, Mike Mills, said that the group's latest series of projects helped them come to the decision.

"During our last tour, and while making 'Collapse Into Now' and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'?' Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together".

A frontman, Michael Stipe, adds:

"A wise man once said -- 'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it," he noted. "I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way".

R.E.M. released 15 albums from which their 1992 set, "Automatic for the People", got the biggest acclaim. They left few classics behind them such as "Losing My Religion", "Everybody Hurts" and "Shiny Happy People". They were inducted to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. The band has sold more than 85 million albums worldwide to date.