R.E.M.

USA, 1980–2011

Athens, Georgia band formed in 1980, with Peter Buck's arpeggiated guitar and Michael Stipe's indistinct vocal delivery. From Murmur to Automatic for the People they moved from college radio to a mass audience.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced R.E.M. and 11 artists R.E.M. influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced R.E.M.?

• The Byrds — Peter Buck's chiming 12-string jangle descends straight from the Byrds — the founding comparison of every early R.E.M. review.
• The Velvet Underground — R.E.M. recorded three Velvet Underground covers on Dead Letter Office — a documented act of discipleship.

Which artists did R.E.M. influence?

• Guided by Voices — R.E.M.'s melodic American college rock is among the touchstones for Guided by Voices' indie songcraft.
• Pavement — R.E.M.'s jangly, melodic college rock is among the acts Pavement have cited as an influence on their songcraft.
• The Cranberries — R.E.M.'s jangly, melodic alternative rock was among O'Riordan's stated primary influences and echoes in the Cranberries' guitar sound.
• Travis — R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People was a direct blueprint for Travis — Healy and Yorke shared a love of its minimalist college rock.
• Radiohead — R.E.M. were the young Radiohead's model of an ethical art-rock career; Michael Stipe became Yorke's personal mentor on the 1995 Monster tour.
• Coldplay — R.E.M. shaped Coldplay's ethic and sound — the band modelled its democratic structure on R.E.M. and U2, and Martin called 'Nightswimming' the greatest song ever written.
• Editors — R.E.M. sit among Editors' stated main influences, feeding their widescreen, melodic side.
• Snow Patrol — R.E.M.'s melodic alt-rock deeply shaped Snow Patrol's anthemic sound — Lightbody later formed the supergroup Tired Pony with R.E.M. members.
• Live — Live came up idolising R.E.M. — their jangling, earnest alternative rock and Michael Stipe's cryptic lyricism are a clear model for the young band.
• Matchbox Twenty — Rob Thomas cites R.E.M. among his core influences behind Matchbox Twenty's melodic, radio-friendly rock.
• Counting Crows — R.E.M.'s literate jangle-rock is among the touchstones behind Counting Crows' melodic alternative rock.