For the REM fans here, the band have uploaded a video of their only live concert of 1992, which was a small show for Greenpeace in their local town. The video quality is poor, but the sound is amazing (taken from the recording used on the recent Automatic for the People bonus CD):
Ooh cool, thanks for sharing this! I still adore REM and have loved them since around 1987/88 (Their Document album is when I really heard them properly for the first time). One of my all-time favourite bands. I have every album and belonged to their fan club for many years (I wasn't one for joining fan clubs usually but REM's club was worth it and great value for money). I always wish I'd got to see them in concert. I did have tickets for a show they were doing at the Milton Keynes' Bowl in 1995 (where they were being supported by Radiohead, Blur and The Cranberries, if I remember correctly - what a line up!) But, come the date of the concert I wasn't able to go as I was in the middle of moving house (from Northampton to Bristol) and had too much to do. I knew it'd be impossible so sold my ticket to someone a few days before. It's just as well I didn't go as there was a heatwave that day and I remember reading that the venue ran out of bottles of water and lots of people collapsed from heat stroke and dehydration at the gig! I would have passed out for sure! Still, I always hoped I would get to see them eventually but it was not to be. Can't remember how much the ticket was now but it was really cheap, compared to today's obscene prices!
Like you I became an REM fan with “Document”, which is such a strong album. It’s still one of my very favourite REM albums. That whole 1987-1992 period was brilliant. When it came out I was disappointed with “Monster” because I was expecting something as raucous and politically pointed as “Document”, but the album has aged well – it has some strong tracks on it, but it was the start of their decline into a middle-aged comfort zone.
I was at that Milton Keynes gig you mention. Yes, there was a heatwave that day and there was no glasses or water or hosing to damp down the crowd – so anyone wanting to go up front for Blur or Radiohead (I think they played different nights) had very little energy left for REM. I paced myself by hanging back and then made my way to the front for REM – it took me a while and by the time I was in the first few rows everyone around me was collapsing of heat exhaustion. I recall Stipe joking “anyone want any water?” and smiling.
I ended up getting Glandular Fever at that show, so I have ambivalent feelings about it looking back. It was cheap compared to the rip-off prices we pay today, but I preferred the REM shows I saw in the 80s. It was the last time I saw them live – when they played Twickenham on their final tour I decided against it as I could only get a seat. That was a really great tour, however, and I wish I had gone!