This page is designed to give you some information on the friends and/or people that are associated with R.E.M. This will help you know who the people are when you hear or read about them.
Last Updated/Revised Monday, January 01, 2007 10:21:41 PM /PST
R.E.M.'s long time manager. Due to some complications that seemed to have remained unsaid he is no longer in that position.
Bertis started out as just R.E.M.'s lawyer and chief advisor, but he has also taken Jefferson's position as manager, and still remains their lawyer and advisor.
Sometimes announced as "unofficially the 5th member of R.E.M.", Peter toured and worked with the band during their 1989 Green World Tour, their 1991-92 albums, and stopped working with them shortly there after.
Microwave is R.E.M.'s lead guitar technician, providing them with top-notch service.
Patti is probably R.E.M.'s biggest influence as far as music and style goes. Both Michael and Peter have stated that her music has changed their lives in significant ways. Patti actually inspired Michael to start singing back in the late 70's, early 80's. Michael seems to be her #1 fan!
These are two musicians that were around R.E.M. in the early 1990's. They performed with the band on their 1991 promo tour and continue to be friends with the band.
Pictured above is R.E.M.'s bassist Mike Mills. He often plays with Billy and Robin.
Mitch was R.E.M.'s first record producer. He started producing with R.E.M. back in the early 80's. He produced Murmur and also played some guitar with the band during early gigs. Mitch was a friend of the band as well, and still holds great respect for them today.
Scott started producing and engineering for R.E.M. in late 1986. The first record Scott produced/engineered was "Document". He continued to produce the band's albums but quit before R.E.M. started "Up". He quit because he wanted to start his own company, and it had nothing to do with disliking or disagreements with the band.
Caroline was one of Michael's girlfriends back in the late 80's. She appeared in the "One I Love" video as the dark haired girl sitting in the chair in the empty room. She and Michael used to write letters to each other while they were going out.
A legendary rock critic in the 70's and 80's. R.E.M. attended a birthday party of his right before his death.
A renowned photographer who Stipe met at a Halloween party. She was a very important part of the Athens scene and a full R.E.M. supporter. She was killed in a car accident which devastated Michael; thus they were very good, close friends. The song "Camera" is dedicated to her.
A beat legend that did a cover of R.E.M.'s "Star Me Kitten". Sadly, William passed away in 1997. He was 87.
Three highly respected directors that are responsible for directing numerous R.E.M. videos such as "Everybody Hurts" and "Drive". Spike Jonze is friends with Michael. His most recent film is "Being John Malkovich".
A reverend in Athens, GA. Stipe used to visit him frequently and would seek out advice from him. He had a magnificent garden in his backyard that was featured in R.E.M.'s video "Radio Free Europe". Stipe once said that the artist was "a man of vision and feeling-a fine example to all." His This garden was shown in the band's very infamous video "Radio Free Europe". The garden featured an old statue and other interesting artifacts. Howard was one of the many people that Michael met while living in Georgia. He was impressed by his art and lifestyle. In fact his art and presence inspired some of the songs by R.E.M., and the art on the cover of their 2nd album was done by Howard. Michael is known to gain as much information out of a person as he can when he be-friends them; as he did with Howard. Sadly, Howard passed away in the Fall of 2001. He was loved by many and had great talent as both a musician and painter. Michael sent out the song "Find the River" to him.
A famous photographer that has worked with R.E.M. for years. He has a knack for catching R.E.M. at their best moments.
Bands that played in Athens long ago. R.E.M. admired these bands and did some covers of their songs.
A very odd fellow that lived in Athens near Michael. He used to pull pranks on the locals, pretending he was dead in the back of a truck, only to come alive a few minutes later. The story is told in its entirety in the song "Old Man Kensey" which is on the R.E.M. LP "Fables of the Reconstruction".
Photographer for the band and art assistant to Michael.
Famous tennis player that helps out the band musically during jams.
A studio was named after him, and R.E.M. often record and rehearse there. The studio is located in their hometown of Athens, GA.
Weaver D's restaurant is famous for it's BBQ goodies, and a frequent stop for visitors and the band members alike. It is located near downtown Athens. Weaver D is the owner.
Syd Straw is a country western singer that got Mr. Stipe's attention in the late 80's. They did a duet together called "The Future 40's". During the introduction of "I Believe" on the Green World Tour Stipe sang a part of this song as a poem.
A group of big R.E.M. enthusiasts, Toni is friends with the band members and really enjoys their music. Toni worked with Michael on his movie project-production of "Velvet Goldmine". Haley has expressed in the past that R.E.M. is his very favorite band. The two starred in the 1999 scary hit "The Sixth Sense", which Michael is very proud of; he said so in front of a 1999 audience during their 1999 World tour. Cameron and Michael met up with his side project-production of the movie "Being John Malkovich".
Natalie is a very famous and a very pretty musician. Not to mention very talented. Michael Stipe met Natalie at a party a long time ago and they hit it off. They have done many projects together over the years including doing the duet song "Paragraph", as well as performing together in 1993. Michael also answered Natalie's song "Eat for Two" with R.E.M.'s 1991 song "Me in Honey", providing a male perspective on pregnancy.
Rain is the sister of River Phoenix and a friend of Stipe's. She appeared in the "At My Most Beautiful" video and also sang back-up vocals on the R.E.M. song "Bang and Blame", along with Stipe's sister Lynda.
Thom is the frontman for the popular band Radiohead here in the US. Thom's music has had a really large influence on R.E.M. and they are good friends. Thom helped out with "Be Mine" at the Tibetan Freedom concert back in 1998.
Nanci is a Southern singer who has made herself comfortable singing with the likes of Hootie & the Blowfish and Vic Chesnutt. Not only does she have southern ties with R.E.M. but they are friends as well. Peter Buck, along with John Keane, introduced her to Vic Chesnutt's music during early recording sessions of her album "Flyer" in Athens, GA. (Sweet Relief II the songs of Vic Chestnutt, 1996).
Bob is R.E.M.'s British Manager, and has been with the band a long time; most notably in 1991.
Stephanie is the wife of R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. They married in late 1995, right before the World tour and have two daughters together. She used to be a lawyer, but in 1991 she purchased the Crocodile Cafe which is a very popular restaurant and lounge. They have very good gumbo, which is strongly recommended. Many very successful bands have performed there including R.E.M. The Crocodile Cafe is located in Seattle, WA.
Jools Holland has a popular radio show which features concerts. R.E.M. has performed on the Jools Holland show a few times over. Jools was a former keyboardist for the band "Squeeze".
Lynda is one of Stipe's two sisters. They hung out together a lot in the early 80's and could be seen together at several shows around the town of Athens, GA. She had a band for a brief period of time called "Tanzplagen"; a post punk band in the early eighties that included her brother Michael. There was a single released titled "Peter Pan", it is a rare find these days. Thanks goes out to Kate for this information. In late 2002 she played bass with a band known as "oh-OK" in Athens.
Mario is a very famous New York chef/cook who owns many restaurants in the New York area. He specializes in Italian cooking, and is often featured on the Food Network. Michael is very good friends with Mario, as Mario has very good taste in music within which they share a love for both food and music. They have gone on a tour of Italy together as well as had several dinners and breakfasts together. They also enjoy concerts together as friends.
Matthew is a friend of both Michael Stipe and Michael's sister Lynda. He transferred to Athens in the 80's to study music and met up with Michael and worked with him for a bit, then joined Lynda's band Oh-OK for a short time.
And finally, here is where you can reach me:
E-Mail me at: d_haglof@efn.org