THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS R.E.M. A Biography

Any listener who was ever more than a casual fan of the band R.E.M. will find much of interest along with a good dose of nostalgia in this detailed history of the group. Mike Chamberlain provides a straightforward, steady, and clear narration with a bit of an edge, appropriate for a biography of a rock band. Notably, author Carlin doesn't include any firsthand interviews with band members Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe as he covers their meeting in Athens, Georgia; early successes and failures; rise to global stardom; and eventual disbanding decades after they began. Chamberlain has the rather thankless task of reciting song lyrics, but fans will be able to conjure up the music in their heads or, better yet, be inspired to go listen to it again. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2025]