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
"Driver 8" Was The Second Single From R.E.M.'s Third Album Fables Of The Reconstruction. While Credited To Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe It Was Primarily Written By Bill Berry. Released In September 1985 The Song Failed To Chart In The United States. It Was Not Released In Europe. The Song Refers To The Southern Crescent A Passenger Train Operated By The Southern Railroad Until 1979 And Continues Today With Fewer Stops As The Amtrak Crescent. The Music Video Shows Chessie System Trains Running Around Huntington West Virginia. NASCAR Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Borrowed The Title Of This Song For His Autobiography. Until 2008 Earnhardt Drove A #8 Car. ESPN Anchor John Buccigross Frequently References The Song On SportsCenter Usually Referring To An Athlete That Wears The Number 8 Such As Alex Ovechkin .