VH1 Storytellers (R.E.M.)

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On October 23, 1998, during promotion for their eleventh studio album, Up, R.E.M. recorded a set for VH1 Storytellers. They were an unlikely candidate for the show, since lead singer Michael Stipe always seemed to enjoy wrapping his lyrics in an aura of mystery. “I think Michael was surprisingly open,” said Bill Flanagan, VH1’s editorial director. “One of the things I was struck by was that this was the real Michael Stipe. He’s charming and funny. He’s not as aloof as people make him out to be. That’s just the way he is when you go out to have dinner with him.” For his part, Stipe said he "just went on autopilot and pretended I was talking to my friends".

The performance took place on a stage bedecked by fairy lights at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York's Manhattan Center.

Contents 1 Setlists 1.1 Unedited 1.2 Edited 2 Personnel 3 External links

[edit] Setlists

[edit] Unedited

1. 'Electrolite'
2. 'Suspicion'
3. 'New Test Leper'
4. 'Losing My Religion'
5. 'Parakeet'
6. 'Daysleeper'
7. 'At My Most Beautiful'
8. 'Fall on Me'
9. 'Walk Unafraid'
10. 'Sad Professor'
11. 'I'm Not Over You' (Stipe solo on acoustic guitar)
12. 'The Apologist'
13. 'Man on the Moon'
14. 'Electrolite' (re-take)
15. 'New Test Leper' (re-take)
16. 'Perfect Circle'
17. '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville' (Mills solo on piano)
18. 'Man on the Moon' (re-take)

As the setlist on Stipe’s music stand that faded in and out during the opening sequence of the televised show illustrated, ‘Everybody Hurts’ was originally pencilled-in as the encore, but was subsequently replaced by ‘Perfect Circle’ and ‘(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville’.

[edit] Edited

The televised show shifted the setlist around. The programme began with the band just emerging from the bridge on 'Electrolite'.

1. 'Electrolite' (part)
2. 'Daysleeper'
3. 'Fall on Me'
4. 'Perfect Circle'
5. 'Parakeet'
6. 'Man on the Moon'
7. 'Losing My Religion'
8. 'At My Most Beautiful'

Seven songs were omitted, namely 'Suspicion', 'New Test Leper', 'Walk Unafraid', 'Sad Professor', 'I'm Not Over You', 'The Apologist' and '(Don't Go Back To) Rockville'.

[edit] Personnel

R.E.M.

• Peter Buck - guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass
• Mike Mills - bass, piano, vocals
• Michael Stipe - acoustic guitar, vocals

Auxiliary musicians

• Scott McCaughey - guitar, piano, vocals
• Ken Stringfellow - bass, banjo, vocals
• Joey Waronker - drums, percussion

[edit] External links

• R.E.M. on VH1 Storytellers

R.E.M.
Peter Buck • Mike Mills • Michael Stipe • Bill Berry
Other musicians: Scott McCaughey • Bill Rieflin • Ken Stringfellow • Nathan December • Buren Fowler • Peter Holsapple • Barrett Martin • Joey Waronker
Management and producers: Bertis Downs, IV • Pat McCarthy • Jefferson Holt • Scott Litt Joe Boyd • Don Dixon • Mitch Easter • Don Gehman
Discography
Albums and EPs: Chronic Town • Murmur • Reckoning • Fables of the Reconstruction • Lifes Rich Pageant • Document • Green • Out of Time • Automatic for the People • Monster • New Adventures in Hi-Fi • Up • Reveal • Around the Sun
Singles: See here
Compilations: Dead Letter Office • Eponymous • In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Remix album: R.E.M.IX
Soundtrack: Man on the Moon
Videos: Succumbs • Tourfilm • Pop Screen • This Film Is On • Parallel • Road Movie • In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • Perfect Square • When the Light Is Mine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Related articles
Alternative rock • Hindu Love Gods • I.R.S. Records • Warner Bros. Records • Homer the Moe
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