Tag: Chronic Town

R.E.M. tears up pre-‘Murmur’ set in 1982 — earliest known pro-shoot footage

R.E.M. tears up pre-‘Murmur’ set in 1982 — earliest known pro-shoot footage

For this week’s installment of Vintage Video, we present what is believed to be the earliest pro-shot video footage of R.E.M. in concert: a 50-minute live set filmed on Oct. 10, 1982, for broadcast on TV by a South Carolina station about six months before the release of the band’s debut, Murmur. Watch it here.

R.E.M. releases monster 131-track Warner Bros. rarities set, puts ‘Chronic Town’ on iTunes

R.E.M. releases monster 131-track Warner Bros. rarities set, puts ‘Chronic Town’ on iTunes

It’s been a big week for R.E.M. fans — even bigger than we thought, with not just the release of the band’s 1991 and 2001 “MTV Unplugged” sets and the previously reported digital collection of I.R.S.-era rarities, but also a digital companion featuring a whopping 131 tracks from the band’s Warner Bros. period.

Premiere: R.E.M. at Atlanta’s 688 Club, February 1981 — watch rare 40-minute set

Premiere: R.E.M. at Atlanta’s 688 Club, February 1981 — watch rare 40-minute set

In February 1981, R.E.M. played three known concerts, including a pair in Atlanta opening for Joe “King” Carrasco at the 688 Club. Little of this period has been seen on video, but Slicing Up Eyeballs is thrilled to be able to premiere — courtesy of Wuxtry Records in Athens, Ga. — this 40-minute set filmed at one of those Atlanta dates.

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ turns 30 today — hear an hour-long 1982 concert

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ turns 30 today — hear an hour-long 1982 concert

Today we celebrate one of the more significant milestones in the college-rock era, the 30th anniversary of the release of R.E.M.’s debut EP, ‘Chronic Town.’ the five-song record that launched the band and, in many ways, the ’80s indie scene. To commemorate this classic record we present audio of a 1982 concert.

Vintage Video: Watch R.E.M. ‘Chronic Town’-era concert filmed for local TV in 1982

Vintage Video: Watch R.E.M. ‘Chronic Town’-era concert filmed for local TV in 1982

It’s Michael Stipe’s birthday today — he’s 52 — so we’re cracking open the Vintage Video vault to bring you a 30-year-old R.E.M. concert, filmed Oct. 10, 1982, at The Pier in Raleigh, N.C., for broadcast on local television — less than two months after the release of ‘Chronic Town.’

Video: The Feelies cover R.E.M.’s ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ in Cambridge, Mass.

Video: The Feelies cover R.E.M.’s ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ in Cambridge, Mass.

The members of R.E.M. have made no secret about how influenced they were by The Feelies’ 1980 debut ‘Crazy Rhythms,’ and in this May clip, we see the reunited band salute their admirers with a high-energy run through ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ off 1982′s ‘Chronic Town’ EP.

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

Milestones: R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ released 28 years ago today; hear rare studio outtakes

College-rock fixture-to-be R.E.M. released its landmark debut EP, ‘Chronic Town,’ 28 years ago today, and to commemorate the anniversary, we present alternate versions of three of the record’s five songs: a faster version of ‘Wolves, Lower’; ‘Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)’ with different vocals and no fadeout; and ‘Shaking Through,’ featuring an organ in the mix.

New releases: Stooges, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Devo reissues; new Revolting Cocks

New releases: Stooges, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Devo reissues; new Revolting Cocks

This week’s new releases include Record Store Day-related reissues from R.E.M., Sonic Youth and Devo, plus the expanded edition of Iggy and the Stooges’ classic ‘Raw Power,’ and a new Revolting Cocks album.

Record Store Day vinyl from R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Ramones, Factory Records

Record Store Day vinyl from R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Ramones, Factory Records

The third-annual Record Store Day is set for April 17, and this year’s exclusive releases include a reissue of Rhino’s 4LP Joy Division vinyl box set, a blue-vinyl reissue of R.E.M.’s ‘Chronic Town’ and fresh vinyl reissues from Sonic Youth, Joe Strummer and the Ramones.