R.E.M. Was An American Rock Band From Athens Georgia Formed In 1980 By Drummer Bill Berry Guitarist Peter Buck Bassist/backing Vocalist Mike Mills And Lead Vocalist Michael Stipe. One Of The First Alternative Rock Bands R.E.M. Was Noted For Buck's Ringing Arpeggiated Guitar Style Stipe's Distinctive Vocal Quality And Obscure Lyrics Mills's Melodic Basslines And Backing Vocals And Berry's Tight Economical Style Of Drumming. R.E.M. Released Its First Single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 On The Independent Record Label Hib-Tone. Read More On Last.Fm
Frogtoon Music - Song Info: (Don't Go Back to) Rockville
" Don't Go Back To Rockville" Was The Second And Final Single Released By R.E.M. From Their Second Studio Album Reckoning. The Song Failed To Chart On Either The Billboard Hot 100 Or The UK Singles Charts. The Song Was Written By Mike Mills As A Plea To His Then Girlfriend Ingrid Schorr Not To Return To Her Hometown Of Rockville Maryland. Peter Buck Has Stated That The Song Was Originally Performed In A Punk/thrash Style And That It Was Recorded For This Single In Its Now More-Familiar Country-Inspired Arrangement As A Joke Aimed At R.E.M. Manager Bertis Downs. Over Time Mike Mills Has Taken Lead Vocals Instead Of Michael Stipe. On R.E.M.'s Appearance On VH1 Storytellers In 1998 Mills Performed The Song Solo On Piano. A Live Version Of The Song Was Released As The B-Side To "Leaving New York" In 2004 And On R.E.M. Live In 2007.