R.E.M., from Athens, Georgia are widely credited as pioneers of alternative rock, influencing countless bands who would follow, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Radiohead. This much-loved band remain a model for young musicians everywhere: a band who always did things on their own terms, a band committed to doing the right thing for each other (such as splitting royalties equally), and never compromising on their artistic independence. They called it a day, on their own terms, in 2011, and have repeatedly ruled out ever reuniting. We, the musicians who make up Stipe are committed to holding true to the sound and overall aesthetic of R.E.M., so that our fellow fans, old and new, can experience the magic of hearing these songs played live with care, conviction, and affection. As huge fans of the band, we take the music (if not ourselves) seriously. Iconic songs such as Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts are recreated note-for-note, while Richard Southerns studied vocal pays homage to Michael Stipes unique voice and enigmatic performance style. Having played to tens of thousands of people all over the UK and Europe, and not least to Michael Stipe himself on the One Show (Michael described us as awesome), we remain committed to putting R.E.M.s music on stages across the UK, Europe and beyond.