The comet arrived: R.E.M. reunited at Songwriters Hall of Fame

ICYMI: R.E.M. made headlines once again as the iconic rock band reunited at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on June 13. This is despite band member Mike Mills telling CBS Mornings that it would take "a comet" for R.E.M. to get back together. So, apparently, that comet showed up, and so did R.E.M.

This marked a rare appearance by all four original members — vocalist Michael Stipe, drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills — who walked the red carpet and delivered an acoustic rendition of their 1991 classic "Losing My Religion," which is a song that has timeless appeal.

The band, known for its pivotal role in the alternative rock movement, was honored alongside music legends such as Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey, Dean Pitchford, Steely Dan, and Cindy Walker at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. This reunion was particularly noteworthy because it was the first time since 2007 that R.E.M. had performed together in public. That year, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Although the band members had a private performance in 2016, it had been over two decades since all four had shared the stage at a major event, as Berry had left the group in 1997 following health issues. As Bono of U2 said, "Being in a band is tricky..."

Songwriting as R.E.M.'s primary focus

Despite Berry's departure, the band continued to make music and tour, with their final live performance taking place in 2008 before officially disbanding in 2011. Writing songs is their primary focus, Stipe stated on the red carpet, reflecting on the honor of being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He said during the ceremony: "We are four people who very early on decided that we would own our own masters and split our royalties and songwriting credits equally. We were all for one and one for all."

Stipe maintains that this recognition as songwriters and musicians is incredible for them. The band’s legacy includes an impressive catalog of hits, with "Losing My Religion" standing out as one of their most significant contributions to the music world.

The song, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, became an anthem of the early '90s and was accompanied by a groundbreaking music video that received heavy rotation on MTV. The track also earned R.E.M. two Grammy Awards and additional nominations for both Record of the Year and Album of the Year for their album Out of Time.

Mills echoed Stipe’s sentiments on the power of their music, saying, "When you write good songs, they have an emotional connection to people and music is one of the things that stays with you your whole life. So, if there’s a song that affected you when you’re 15, it’ll probably affect you when you’re 40." This ability to connect with audiences across generations has solidified R.E.M.’s place in rock history.

R.E.M.'s other hits

Beyond "Losing My Religion," R.E.M. has delivered numerous other hits that have left a lasting impact on the music industry, including "Everybody Hurts," "Man on the Moon," and "It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." During the induction ceremony, Jason Isbell performed a cover of "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" (here is the original version).

Reflecting on their career during the ceremony, Stipe highlighted the significance of their body of work. Having a catalog of songs that they are all proud of, that will exist for the world to enjoy for generations, is hands down the most important aspect of their band. He also noted the strong bonds of friendship that have remained among the band members, adding, "Second to that is that we managed to do so for all these decades and remain friends, and not just friends, but dear friends — friends for life."

R.E.M.’s legacy as trailblazers of alternative rock is undeniable, and their reunion at the Songwriters Hall of Fame serves as a reminder of their lasting impact on music.