When did R.E.M. disband? The 80s rock band reunites at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony and performs together after years

On Thursday, June 13, the four original members of the alternative rock band R.E.M. performed for the first time in nearly 30 years at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony in New York. The band performed an acoustic version of their iconic 1991 hit track Losing My Religion to celebrate their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The group last publically performed in a major concert as a unit back in 1995 before drummer and multi-instrumentalist Bill Berry's 1997 departure. The group officially disbanded in 2011 before reuniting for a private performance for Bertis Downs, the band's longtime manager, in 2016.

Formed in 1980, R.E.M. consisted of Bill Berry, lead guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. With 15 studio albums under their belt, the band sold over 85 million copies worldwide. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

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R.E.M. reunites to perform Losing My Religion

Nearly three decades after calling it quits, R.E.M. was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. During the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel, all four members of the band graced the stage as a unit in public for the first time since back in 1995.

R.E.M.'s segment at the ceremony was kickstarted by a performance of the group's 1987 track It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) by Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Jason Isbell. The singer joked after his performance:

"I never sang so many syllables so fast in my life."

Stipe took the stage to deliver a fine speech, with his bandmates standing beside him. The singer stated:

"Writing songs and having a catalog of work that we’re all proud of — that is out there for the rest of the world for the rest of time — is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did."

He added:

"Second to that is that we managed to do so all those decades and remain friends — and not just friends, but dear friends."

The singer further expressed how the band was always "all for one and one for all" as they decided early on that they'd all be their own masters and split royalties and songwriting credits equally. After thanking music execs, family, and friends Stipe also had a heartfelt tribute to the band's longtime manager, Bertis Downs.

All four members of R.E.M. previously reunited for a private performance for Downs in 2016. Stipe thanked the manager for shielding the band from concerns regarding aspects of the industry that could've interfered with their songwriting and songs.

Stipe then took the stage with the rest of his bandmates to perform an acoustic version of their 1991 hit Losing My Religion. The singer said after taking the stage:

"We’re R.E.M., and this is what we did."

The 1995 Monster tour which began in January of the same year was the final major tour that the legendary R.E.M. ever did. The tour, though a commercial success was plagued by a plethora of health issues. Bassist Mike Mills had to undergo abdominal surgery, and lead singer Michael Stipe had to get emergency surgery for a hernia.

During the same tour, drummer Bill Berry suffered from a double-brain aneurysm while performing in Switzerland. Berry departed from the band two years later in 1997 and the rest of the members, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, and lead guitarist Peter Buck performed as a band until 2011 after which all members amicably decided to call it quits.

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The inductees into this year's Songwriters Hall of Fame included the late country star Cindy Walker, singer-songwriter Hillary Lindsey, songwriter Dean Pitchford, producer Timbaland, and legendary rock band Steely Dan.