REM

On this day 10/07/2005 REM

Images may be subject to copyright

Images may be subject to copyright

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