Legacy R.E.M.

pavement 1 of several alternative rock bands cite r.e.m. influence; band wrote song unseen power of picket fence r.e.m.

r.e.m. pivotal in creation , development of alternative rock genre. allmusic stated, r.e.m. mark point when post-punk turned alternative rock. in 1980s, musical style of r.e.m. stood in contrast post-punk , new wave genres had preceded it. music journalist simon reynolds noted post-punk movement of late 1970s , 1980s had taken whole swaths of music off menu , particularly of 1960s, , after postpunk s demystification , new pop s schematics, felt liberating listen music rooted in mystical awe , blissed-out surrender. reynolds declared r.e.m., band recalled music of 1960s plangent guitar chimes , folk-styled vocals , wistfully , abstractly conjured visions , new frontiers america , 1 of 2 important alt-rock bands of day. release of murmur, r.e.m. had impact musically , commercially of developing alternative genre s groups, leaving in wake number of jangle pop followers.

r.e.m. s breakthrough success served inspiration other alternative bands. spin referred r.e.m. model —career decisions r.e.m. made set guidelines other underground artists follow in own careers. spin s charles aaron wrote 1985, d shown how far underground, punk-inspired rock band go within industry without whoring out artistic integrity in obvious way. d figured out how buy in, not sellout-in other words, d achieved american bohemian dream. steve wynn of dream syndicate said, invented whole new ballgame of other bands follow whether sonic youth or replacements or nirvana or butthole surfers. r.e.m. staked claim. musically, bands did different things, r.e.m. first show can big , still cool. biographer david buckley stated between 1991 , 1994, period saw band sell estimated 30 million albums, r.e.m. asserted rivals u2 title of biggest rock band in world. on course of career, band has sold on 85 million records worldwide.

later alternative bands such nirvana, pavement, radiohead, coldplay, pearl jam (the band s vocalist eddie vedder inducted r.e.m. rock , roll hall of fame), , live, have drawn inspiration r.e.m. s music. when 15 years old in richmond, virginia, important part of life, pavement s bob nastanovich said, members of our band. pavement devoted song unseen power of picket fence no alternative compilation (1993) discussing chronic town , reckoning. local h, according band s twitter account, created name combining 2 r.e.m. songs: oddfellows local 151 , swan swan h . kurt cobain of nirvana vocal fan of r.e.m., , had plans collaborate on musical project stipe before death in april 1994. cobain told rolling stone in interview earlier year, don’t know how band do. god, they’re greatest. they’ve dealt success saints, , keep delivering great music.