R.E.M.: Talk About The Passion--An Oral History

By Denise Sullivan

This is the story of R.E.M.--whose most recent album sold over 14 million copies--as told by friends of the band, fellow musicians, and music industry insiders. Sullivan charts R.E.M's rise from an Athens, Georgia party-band to a politically active, world-renowned rock group who has influenced alternative bands for more than a decade. Includes a complete discography, photos, and line drawings.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088733184X
• ISBN13: 9780887331848
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

great book on a band that made all the right choices

this is a quick enjoyable overview of the first fourteen years of R.E.M. the back half of the book, following the release of their fifth album Document, is where the book becomes less valuable as a source because many of those who had access to them earlier had less access as they became a larger entity, but overall it was still an interesting read. truly one of The american rock bands of all time—even people who grew less close with them still spoke highly of their character and their ability to progress in their career. would recommend to anyone starting a band.

All about perspective

This is neither a "companion piece" nor a "tell-all" book. Equally, it is not a flimsy paperback stapled and glued together just in time for the band's next big tour. What Denise Sullivan does write (and write well, also) is much closer to an anecdote, a souveneir, a recalled event. She avoids the trite and passionless type of "rock'n'roll" review/expose we have to endure all the time and instead lets the reader get a glimpse not so much of the band REM, but of the people that REM exerted some influence on, or the people for whom REM mattered. Reading Sullivan's book, I am reminded of how one of my closest friends and I discuss REM -- from memory, from songs, from what has been happening in our lives. This book feels like a friend.

A Necessary Companion

Unlike most "rock-n-roll" books which often pander to the lowest common denominator -- which usually is the author's own personal bias barely hidden in the text and most often the lens through which we are forced to watch the history of the band/singer unfold -- Denise Sullivan gives us something better, and frankly, more fun. "TATP" offers an original and fresh perspective on a very enigmatic yet familiar college - rock - alternative - mainstream - wacky - superstar band. This book is a must-have for both the fan and fanatic. The writing is well-done, the subject matter well-handled. While almost everyone's favorite REM song and/or album may change over time, this remains my favorite book on the band.

An informative look at R.E.M.

This book was excellent. It was great to get a history of what went on by people who actually were there.Recommendwd if you are a fan of Mr. Stipe and Co. or just interested in a the history of great music that shaped a scene.

Great

You can't get much better than this -- personal accounts of people who actually were there. There is just as much information to be found here as in _It Crawled from the South_. It proceeds chronologically with great detail, and feeds the REM-fact hungry reader just what he/she wants.