“I don’t need the money and I’ve had enough applause to last 10 lifetimes.” R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck insists that the band will never, ever properly reform
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck has stated definitively that the iconic 1980s rock band will not officially reunite. Buck, speaking to MOJO magazine, emphasized that he does not require additional income nor further recognition, citing that he has already experienced a career full of success and accolades. This statement represents a formal closure to years of speculation about a potential R.E.M. revival.
Despite Buck's position, the band's four original members—Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry—have made occasional onstage appearances together in recent years, including a performance at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a tribute concert appearance in February 2024. The band's official final performance took place in 2008, though drummer Bill Berry had largely stepped back from touring in the mid-1990s following a serious health crisis. These limited reunions appear to be special events rather than signals of a broader comeback.
- Peter Buck confirms R.E.M. will not officially reunite despite financial comfort
- The band has performed together at special events but these are not part of a full reunion
- R.E.M.'s official run ended in 2008 after a decades-long career