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
"Radio Free Europe" Is A Post-Punk Song By American Alternative Rock Band R.E.M. "Radio Free Europe" Was Released As R.E.M.'s Debut Single On The Short-Lived Independent Record Label Hib-Tone In 1981. The Song Features "what Were To Become The Trademark Unintelligible Lyrics Which Have Distinguished R.E.M.'s Work Ever Since."The Single Received Critical Acclaim And Its Success Earned The Band A Record Deal With I.R.S. Records. R.E.M. Re-Recorded The Song For Its Debut Album Murmur 1983 . The Re-Recording For I.R.S. Became The Group's First Charting Single Peaking At Number 78 On The Billboard Charts.