R.E.M. Calls It a Day, Frees Up Peter Buck for Something New (Right?!?!)

Renee McMahon

R.E.M.'s Peter Buck (right) and Michael Stipe at Sasquatch! 2010.

Funny Story: As I was walking into LQA's Easy Street Records a few weeks ago, dropping off copies of Reverb Monthly, I ran into--almost literally--a shopper who looked a hell of a lot like R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. Upon further inspection, it turned out to be him.

Since he was pulling magazines off the rack, I took the opportunity to hand-deliver a copy of our new rag to him. I told him we were reviewing every local record. He said: "Good. I like to keep up with what's going on."

Now that R.E.M. has broken up--as the legendary mega-indie band announced today --here's hoping Buck will lend his inimitable sound to another Seattle project or two. We await with eager ears. Buck's guitar sound is among the most iconic in rock, and one of the few that you can pick out on first strum.

Here are Buck's comments on the matter, per R.E.M.'s website:

"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.

"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world."

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