Near Wild Heaven - I Met REM

I went to see Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 play at the Rescue Rooms last month (6th January 2007 - to be exact). The only real reason I went was because Peter Buck is part of the band, and he is the guitarist in REM, my favourite band. Ever.

They played last year and I got to meet Peter Buck at the end of the gig as he helped out behind the merch stand, and he was kind enough to sign my ticket stub. So this year I took the booklet to my Up album just in case I get the chance again for him to sing something.

Well, as I stood by the bar in the main bar area having a pre-gig drink, I almost choked to death on my over priced Grolsch as I spotted Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, along with REM's manager walk in and order some drinks. Damn, REM were in the Rescue Rooms drinking. Crazy.

I met up with my mate and his friend and told them who I had seen in the other room. Suitably excited, we were hoping that maybe REM would get up on stage at some point.

During the gig, both Michael Stipe and Mike Mills brushed past us on a couple of occasions, mainly because we had situated ourselves close to them. They were not as tall as I was led to believe.

As the gig came to a rushed close due to the crappy club night starting, it came became obvious that Mike Mills and Michael Stipe werent going to get up on stage on join Peter Buck. We waited at the end to see if anyone was going to come out like last year, but they didn't.

We thought that we would take a walk upstairs, went through the doors to the upstairs bar, and damn, there was the whole of Robyn Hitchcock and The Venus 3 with the assorted REM members having an after show beer and chatting among one another.

I got the Up booklet out of my pocket ready to get it signed but had to pen. Luckily, there was a member of staff loitering in the room who had a black marker pen. I asked if I could borrow it, and then fueled by a mixture of beer, fandom, and by the fact I would never be in the same room as REM ever again, I approached the band.

First up I accosted Mike Mills who was on a stool chatting to a standing Bill Reiflin (REM and Venus 3 drummer). Then I noticed Peter Buck sat down having a conversation with Michael Stipe. I knew Peter would be friendly and approachable, but was apprehensive as to how Michael would be being approached by a geeky fan with a pen and album to be signed. Both of them were extremely friendly and readily signed my album cover. We then stood and had a little chat with them both for a few minutes. Peter Buck did most of the talking out of the two, and some of the subjects that came up included: Playing at the same venue almost a year to the day, funky shirts, sleeping with women in the 8o's, and REM playing at Rock City in 84/85. Then with a handshake, a smile, and a good-bye, we left them to it.

I them stood there in the middle of the room like a moron with the widest grin on my face ever and the freshly signed Up booklet hanging in my hand. Security quickly spotted that I wasn't part of the bands party and politely asked me to leave.

The best night ever. And as my mum bluntly put it, "This must be your highlight of the year. It is all down hill now from here." She could be right...but what a highlight...

Here is a copy of the signed Up booklet:


With the people. They got the train to Nottingham:


REM in cyberspace.
Murmurs is the best REM fan site. Visit it.