R.E.M. have announced that they have broken up after 31 years together. "As lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band," the band said in a statement on their official website today. "We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished."

In just over three decades as a band, R.E.M. released 15 albums including landmark works such as "Murmur," "Reckoning," "Document," "Out of Time" and "Automatic For the People." The band's final album, "Collapse Into Now," was released in March of this year. There were reports over the summer that the band had spent some time in an Athens studio, but it is unclear whether anything will come of that session.

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=670895&GT1=28102&silentchk=1&wa=wsignin1.0

It's definitely the end of an era. They were a great band, but it was never the same after Bill Berry left in '96 and they became a trio.

Wow, so long ago when I first heard "Radio Free Europe" in 1983. Didn't realize how huge they'd get. 'Life's Rich Pageant' was the album that sold me on them in 1986. I always liked the song "Begin the Begin", as well as "Fall On Me" and "Cayuhoga". "It's the End Of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" was great. I always liked their cryptic lyrics and jangly guitars.

This is very sad to hear, but all good things must come to an end. My brother and I were huge fans growing up. His favorite, Losing My Religion, my favorite, Man On The Moon. Congrats on 31 amazing years! Thank You REM, THANK YOU!!!

Man on the Moon is the only good song that REM did

Man on the Moon is the only good song that REM did

Give me a freakin' break, their catalog is full of great songs.

Top 10:

#1. Orange Crush
#2. It's the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine)
#3. Man on the Moon
#4. Stand
#5. All I Have to Do is Dream
#6. Driver 8
#7. South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
#8. Losing My Religion
#9. The One I Love
#10. Everybody Hurts


The only R.E.M. songs I don't care for are Pop Song 89 and Shiny Happy People.

There are few rock bands I can say I really, really like but REM was one of them. They made beautiful songs that never get old (well, except for Stand). Thanks for the music.

I love REM and I was surprised and a little saddened to hear that they are breaking up, but its' true that all good things must come to an end. They did great things when they were together though. One of my all time favorite songs is "Shiny Happy People"

Give me a freakin' break, their catalog is full of great songs.

Top 10:

#1. Orange Crush
#2. It's the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine)
#3. Man on the Moon
#4. Stand
#5. All I Have to Do is Dream
#6. Driver 8
#7. South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
#8. Losing My Religion
#9. The One I Love
#10. Everybody Hurts


The only R.E.M. songs I don't care for are Pop Song 89 and Shiny Happy People.

I love all those songs except Losing my Religion, a song I could never get into. The other day, I was at WM, and heard Night Swimming on the overhead!! A song almost as good, if not better than Everybody Hurts. Also, love Fall on Me and Radio Free Europe.

I love all those songs except Losing my Religion, a song I could never get into. The other day, I was at WM, and heard Night Swimming on the overhead!! A song almost as good, if not better than Everybody Hurts. Also, love Fall on Me and Radio Free Europe.

Darn, I forgot all about Nightswimming and Radio Free Europe.

Darn, I forgot all about Nightswimming and Radio Free Europe.

I guess it's rather hard to make a Top 10 of REM, they have so many good songs.