R.E.M.’s Journey: 10% Inspiration, 90% Perspiration
Before R.E.M. became a global sensation with Out Of Time and the iconic Losing My Religion in 1991, they spent a decade as a significant part of the American alternative rock scene. While Nirvana’s Nevermind (released the same year) is often credited with toppling 80s hair metal and glam rock, the band themselves frequently cite R.E.M. as their primary influence.
Both Out Of Time and Nevermind marked a turning point in the career of each band, with tunes that were radio-friendly yet still maintained a raw energy. Prior to these albums, both bands were more about attitude than delivering polished hits.
R.E.M.’s approach to music was characterised by a fierce DIY mentality, with a firm refusal to follow conventional rules. Michael Stipe, the band’s frontman, recalled in an interview with the Broken Record podcast that it took him two albums to realise that the bass guitar was responsible for the low notes in their music. His humble admission highlights the band’s early lack of formal training, preferring to simply create rather than adhere to music industry norms.
After ten years of grinding on the road (often in a Dodge van), R.E.M. began to find their footing. Stipe’s words, “10% inspiration and 90% perspiration”, became the perfect summary of the band’s relentless work ethic.
Their first major breakthrough came in 1987 with the song The One I Love, but it was Out Of Time in 1991 that solidified R.E.M.’s place in rock history. The album introduced the world to Shiny Happy People and their most successful single to date, Losing My Religion. The album’s more polished sound showcased how much they had evolved as musicians.
The follow-up, Automatic For The People (1992), proved that their success wasn’t a fluke. With classics like Drive, Man On The Moon, and Everybody Hurts, R.E.M. established themselves as one of the biggest bands of the ’90s.
Following this, R.E.M. released a box set featuring early recordings and B-sides, as if to say, “Here’s where we came from”. However, Monster (1994) marked a slight departure, with only one major hit, What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? Even so, their fans still revered the band for their willingness to evolve and explore new territory.
Some consider New Adventures In Hi-Fi (1996) their final great album, although by this point, R.E.M. had amassed such a vast catalogue that the need for constant radio hits was no longer essential. They had reached a point where their name alone was enough to fill stadiums, and by the time they parted ways in 2011, they had sold over 85 million albums.
R.E.M Tunes | Related Pages
Everybody Hurts | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D | D | G5 | G5 |
When your day is long…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
King Of The Road | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play King Of The Road by Roger Miller using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bb | Eb | F | Bb |
Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, 50 cents…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: King Of The Road (Roger Miller) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Losing My Religion | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Losing My Religion by R.E.M. using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
Oh, life is bigger, it’s bigger than you and you are not me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Losing My Religion (R.E.M.) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Man On The Moon | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Man On The Moon by R.E.M. using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C | Dadd4 Dadd9sus4 | C | C |
Mott the Hoople and the Game of Life. Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Man On The Moon (R.E.M.) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
The One I Love | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play The One I Love by R.E.M. using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Em | Dsus2 | Em (Em7) | Em (Em7) |
This one goes out to the one I love…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: The One I Love (R.E.M.) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
R.E.M. on the web
