Why Did R.E.M. Quit?: The End Of An Era

In their first interview together in nearly 30 years, the members of R.E.M. – Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, and Bill Berry – opened up about their decision to call it quits in 2011. During the interview, which aired on CBS Mornings, they shared that there wasn’t anything they could agree on really musically. The band had been together for over 25 years at this point, and they felt that they had reached a creative impasse.

Their last album, *Collapse Into Now,* released in 2011, highlighted their creative differences. The album saw the band trying different musical styles and sounds, a reflection of their individual musical interests. However, the band ultimately felt that they had exhausted all of their creative options and decided to disband. Their final performance was on November 3, 2011, in Athens, Georgia, the town where the band had formed in 1980. While the band members had some creative differences, they ultimately called it a day because they felt it was time to move on to other projects. Stipe went on to pursue solo music, Mills and Buck continue to work together in the band The Minus 5, and Berry has largely retired from the music industry. While R.E.M. is no longer making music, their legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.