It's official. R.E.M. is done making music. The band announced on their site that they are calling it quits. They've been making music for three decades, have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their music will live on not only in the form of their 15 albums, but in the influence that they've had on other bands, artists, and fans. Instead of trying to capitalize on their fame and trudging forward, the guys decided to bow out gracefully. The announcement reads:
"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."
Read what frontman Michael Stipe said below, and head over to the band's official site to read the other band members' messages about the announcement.
"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.
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.
We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."
