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On this day, 10 July 2005, American rockers from Athens, Georgia, REM played Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, on their Around The Sun Tour, with support from Johnathan Rice, Idlewild and The Zutons.
Around The Sun was the band’s 13th studio album, released the previous October.
During production of the album in 2002, Stipe said, "[The album] sounds like it's taking off from the last couple of records into unchartered R.E.M. territory. Kind of primitive and howling".
After the album's release, Mills said, "I think, honestly, it turned out a little slower than we intended for it to, just in terms of the overall speed of songs."
Around the Sun received a mixed critical reception, the first single from the album, "Leaving New York", was a Top 5 hit in the UK.
For the record and subsequent tour, the band hired a new full-time touring drummer, Bill Rieflin, who had previously been a member of several industrial music acts such as Ministry and Pigface, and remained in that role for the duration of the band's active years.
The video album Perfect Square was released that same year.
R.E.M.
Peter Buck – guitar
Mike Mills – bass guitar, background vocals, keyboards, lead vocals on "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville"
Michael Stipe – vocals, harmonica on "Bad Day"
Additional musicians
Scott McCaughey – guitar, keyboards, background vocals
Bill Rieflin – drums
Ken Stringfellow – keyboards, guitar, melodica, background vocals
Setlist
Bad Day
What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
The One I Love
Drive
The Outsiders
Animal
Strange Currencies
Wanderlust
So Fast, So Numb
Leaving New York
Everybody Hurts
Electron Blue
Electrolite
These Days
Final Straw
Orange Crush
Walk Unafraid
Losing My Religion
encore:
Imitation Of Life
The Great Beyond
Exhuming McCarthy
Nightswimming
I'm Gonna DJ
Man On The Moon
