R.E.M. Members, Gear & Sound

American rock band

Genre

Rock Alternative rock Pop rock Folk rock Power pop Post-punk Classic rock College rock Jangle pop Indie permanent wave athens indie

Members

Select a R.E.M. band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.

Peter Buck

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

The Minus 5 Tuatara Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 Tired Pony Nigel & the Crosses The Baseball Project Filthy Friends Hindu Love Gods Slow Music Bingo Hand Job The No Ones Arthur Buck Barrett Martin Group Full Time Men Musical Kings

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Mike Mills

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Groups:

The Backbeat Band Big Star’s Third Nigel & the Crosses Four Croakers Hindu Love Gods Automatic Baby Bingo Hand Job The Downtown 13 The Jim Irsay Band

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Bill Rieflin

Roles:

Drummer Keyboardist

Groups:

Swans King Crimson Ministry KMFDM Pigface Revolting Cocks Lard The Minus 5 Jakalope The Petty Tyrants 'Snots Dark Load Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 Pailhead Sweet 75 Filthy Friends Acid Horse Land Seattle Guitar Circle Slow Music 1000 Homo DJs The Humans Blackouts The Bells The Angels of Light

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Joey Waronker

Roles:

Drummer Music Producer

Groups:

Oasis Atoms for Peace Loser IMA Robot Ultraísta The John Doe Thing North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative Walt Mink Jomoro

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Michael Stipe

Roles:

Singer

Groups:

All Star Tribute Community Trolls The Golden Palominos Artists Against AIDS Worldwide Hindu Love Gods Automatic Baby Bingo Hand Job Nest (adj.) Tanzplagen

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Ken Stringfellow

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Groups:

Big Star The Posies Big Star’s Third Four Croakers Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg

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Bill Berry

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Love Tractor Hindu Love Gods Bingo Hand Job The Bad Ends

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Scott McCaughey

Roles:

Guitarist

Groups:

The Minus 5 Tuatara Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 The New Original Sonic Sound Tired Pony The Young Fresh Fellows Four Croakers The Fresh Mud Choir The Baseball Project Filthy Friends The No Ones His Mortal Enemies

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About

R.E.M. is an influential American rock band that emerged from Athens, Georgia in 1980. Known for their pioneering role in the alternative rock movement, the group originally consisted of Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), and Bill Berry (drums, percussion). Their sound is a unique blend of rock, folk rock, and jangle pop, characterized by Buck's chiming guitar riffs, Stipe's enigmatic lyrics, and a driving rhythm section. Over their career, R.E.M. evolved from college rock favorites to international superstars, leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape with timeless albums like Murmur, Out of Time, and Automatic for the People.

How to Sound Like R.E.M.

To emulate R.E.M.'s evocative sound, one should focus on creating bright, chiming guitar tones and melodic bass lines that provide a rich harmonic backdrop. Peter Buck's use of the Rickenbacker 360 is central to this jangle pop aesthetic, often paired with the 12-string Eastwood Nashville Electric Guitar for a fuller sonic texture. Amplifying through a Savage Blitz 50 amp can further enhance the clean yet resonant quality of the guitar sound. The band's compositions often weave together mellow acoustic strumming and dynamic electric passages, creating an intricate balance between introspection and energy. Drummers looking to capture Berry's style should aim for steady, unassuming rhythms that complement rather than overshadow the melodic elements. This combination of textured guitar work, thoughtful lyricism, and cohesive rhythm forms the core of R.E.M.'s enduring appeal.

Discography

Murmur

1983

Murmur - Deluxe Edition

1983

Reckoning - Deluxe Edition

1984

Fables Of The Reconstruction

1985

Lifes Rich Pageant

1986

Document (R.E.M. No. 5)

1987

Document - 25th Anniversary Edition

1987

Green (Remastered)

1988

Out Of Time

1991

Lost in Time: The Uncut Interview Sessions

1992

Automatic For The People

1992

Monster (Remastered)

1994

New Adventures In Hi-Fi

1996

Interview Sessions

1996

1998

Reveal

2001

Around The Sun

2004

R.E.M. Live

2007

Accelerate

2008

Live At The Olympia

2009

Collapse Into Now

2011

Complete Rarities 1988-2011

2014

R.E.M. At The BBC (Live)

2018

Get the R.E.M. Sound

Want to sound like R.E.M.? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.