man, those kids have better questions than most interviewers i've seen interact with REM. and that host looks like johnny from karate kid, i might add.
WOW!!!!! All I can say is, if you are an REM fan, you need to see this interview. In this short segment, you see where the band's philosphy and how their personalities shaped their music. E X C E L L E N T !!
This is an amazing interview with an authentic classy and true-genius band. Peter is so honest. Their intelligence is so evident. Love this-- thank you :)
His name was Fred Newman and he was the host of Livewire on Nickelodeon. He's done a lot of behind the scenes work in the entertainment industry, mainly voice acting. He's mainly known as being the voice of Skeeter on the Nickelodeon show, Doug.
I remember watching this show (thought I don't remember REM or anyone else, for that matter.) I did remember the host's name was Fred (weird the things that stick - I was 16 when this was on.) Love the kid who has been listening to their music for "a long time" when Murmur was only 6 months old and Chronic Town was a little more than a year old. Those NYC kids were sooo hip!
This is fascinating. Clearly, this was before they broke into the big time, before "alternative" was a label, before Athens was a "scene," etc. Just four guys trying to make it by playing the clubs. BTW/I first saw them just around this time, or maybe a bit earlier, in Athens, with the songs from Murmur. If I am remembering right, it was a free show on campus, sponsored by the student union.
They we're just starting to really get alot of attention at this time so I think Peter was still his real self and having a good time at 24 or 25 years of age. But after being in the business for so long and so many countless people wanting to be so close made him eventually slightly withdrawn. Plus as years went by, he hated hearing his voice even more so than before. He sure helped keep Rickenbacker in business.
In a later interview ('92), Mills said that they had to pick a name fast for a gig they were about to play. They looked through a dictionary and landed on REM - just thought it sounded simple and clean.
How did they give away their originality? Who else could have written Losing my religion or everybody hurts? (or indeed the albums full of beautiful, less-appreciated songs) And as has been stated a zillion times before - it's not that they lost their originality, but that other bands and musicians copied them (as is their wont)
There was talk about this before my original upload of this was taken down...Buck said that in an interview, but I don't think it looks a thing like him - I've seen pics of the guys in Beastie Boys from back then.
Mike is without glasses and stipe didn't get them until the later years of the band after bill left the band in the late 90's so y does Michael have Mikey's glasses on here?
This is back when these guys are cool as they got big and they get deluded with their own popularity and they make money they become different it’s a shame but they did evolve nicely ….the good thing was they were always true to themselves and they were true to each other they treated each other with respect …didn’t get involved with a lot of the band bullshit that happens these guys are always clear with ther vision of what they wanted that van to be
they gave away part of their originality [not all of it] in order to write some of the best songs that were written during the 90s...that s ok with me.
The coolest guys. Very unassuming. Down to earth. Love REM
man, those kids have better questions than most interviewers i've seen interact with REM. and that host looks like johnny from karate kid, i might add.
Storie Grubb lol he does look johnny from karate kid - 'GET HIM A BODY BAG!!!'
WOW!!!!! All I can say is, if you are an REM fan, you need to see this interview. In this short segment, you see where the band's philosphy and how their personalities shaped their music. E X C E L L E N T !!
This is an amazing interview with an authentic classy and true-genius band. Peter is so honest. Their intelligence is so evident.
Love this-- thank you :)
such a sweet interview, stipe is soooooo shy!
"It beats going to the football games."
True words have never been said about Athens, GA.
I remember watching this on nickelodeon when I was about 13 years old, and thinking these guys looked soooo oooold.
His name was Fred Newman and he was the host of Livewire on Nickelodeon. He's done a lot of behind the scenes work in the entertainment industry, mainly voice acting. He's mainly known as being the voice of Skeeter on the Nickelodeon show, Doug.
Jesus they were so adorable 😭
I remember watching this show (thought I don't remember REM or anyone else, for that matter.) I did remember the host's name was Fred (weird the things that stick - I was 16 when this was on.) Love the kid who has been listening to their music for "a long time" when Murmur was only 6 months old and Chronic Town was a little more than a year old. Those NYC kids were sooo hip!
This is fascinating. Clearly, this was before they broke into the big time, before "alternative" was a label, before Athens was a "scene," etc. Just four guys trying to make it by playing the clubs. BTW/I first saw them just around this time, or maybe a bit earlier, in Athens, with the songs from Murmur. If I am remembering right, it was a free show on campus, sponsored by the student union.
Hey,it's Livewire,Fred Newman is great. I also love R.E.M.
I remember Mike telling me what a hoot this guy was. One of the Beasties was in the audience. I loved catching it the first time.
Great video and a really cool interview. Thanks for posting!
They we're just starting to really get alot of attention at this time so I think Peter was still his real self and having a good time at 24 or 25 years of age.
But after being in the business for so long and so many countless people wanting to be so close made him eventually slightly withdrawn.
Plus as years went by, he hated hearing his voice even more so than before.
He sure helped keep Rickenbacker in business.
"Why R.E.M.?
Why not?"
In a later interview ('92), Mills said that they had to pick a name fast for a gig they were about to play. They looked through a dictionary and landed on REM - just thought it sounded simple and clean.
That was great. Thanks a lot!
Peter Buck!! Be still my heart!! ❤️💋
I just read in Rolling Stone where Mike said they shared a trailer at Grass Valley, CA with Ratt! He said it was quite an experience.
they were on letterman a few weeks earlier. i like it.
How did they give away their originality? Who else could have written Losing my religion or everybody hurts? (or indeed the albums full of beautiful, less-appreciated songs) And as has been stated a zillion times before - it's not that they lost their originality, but that other bands and musicians copied them (as is their wont)
Such a great interview then I realize it's a kids show. RIOT
STIPE always had cool hair! Great lil band!
"minimalist avant garde whatever that means" LOL poor guy.
Christ, I don't think Peter has spoken this much in an interview since, well... since *this* interview.
Strange, we must be looking at different interviews. Most old one's I see have Peter talking a lot.
What's the interview you're referring to?
C'mon guys, don't you want to try a synthesizer? LOL
Early REM are the best!
There was talk about this before my original upload of this was taken down...Buck said that in an interview, but I don't think it looks a thing like him - I've seen pics of the guys in Beastie Boys from back then.
go on michael..speak.....speak.....speak....
oh well... we love you anyway. maybe later
He also does sound effects on Prairie Home Companion on NPR.....
Wow, Peter Buck was super hot then - I'm pretty sure he still is ;) - R.E.M. forever, they are CLASSIC!!
I heard this too. I think it might have been another band that was on Live Wire if that wasn't him. But I remember that too.
Mike is without glasses and stipe didn't get them until the later years of the band after bill left the band in the late 90's so y does Michael have Mikey's glasses on here?
I can not believe how similar Michael Stipe and Morrissey are. They should have got married. It would have been the greatest indie ceremony ever.
Sort of off-topic, but its a shame that Nickelodeon doesn't have shows like this anymore (shows with content, i mean).
lol look at stipe's hair. crazy genius
i read in "it crawled from the south" that the kid at 6:36 was one of the Beastie Boys.
It's strange seeing Mike with no glasses on!
:o
The first R.E.M. show I saw also featured Mike Mills without glasses, though I didn't know his name until later.
This is back when these guys are cool as they got big and they get deluded with their own popularity and they make money they become different it’s a shame but they did evolve nicely ….the good thing was they were always true to themselves and they were true to each other they treated each other with respect …didn’t get involved with a lot of the band bullshit that happens these guys are always clear with ther vision of what they wanted that van to be
ohh I was 2 years old!!
What is FM radio?
Corporate-rock stations (yawn...)
Bill Berry looks just like Stevie Ray Ray Vaughn without the hat, haha!
@newpageone Really? What one?
they gave away part of their originality [not all of it] in order to write some of the best songs that were written during the 90s...that s ok with me.
this is their first ever tv appearance, isn't it? anyway, it's quite stupid. :D
a kids' show! ha!
stipe looks like a different person from now.
So does Mills.
Very cool to watch this but the interviewer could not be more clueless.
So why did you watch?
That interviewer is kind of a jerk.
Why?
Ad Rock and R.E.M. without there being some "Save the Whales" charity show. Bizarre. Shame they didn't rock "High Planes Drifter" together.