In 2004, R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen took part in the Vote For Change tour, along with the Dixie Chicks, DMB, Jackson Browne, Pearl Jam, etc., to inspire folks to vote against George W. Bush. It didn’t work, obviously, but four years later we stumbled upon footage of the R.E.M. guys practicing for their performances with the Boss from the D. A. Pennebaker documentary National Anthem: Inside the Vote for Change Concert. As the documentary title suggests, the R.E.M./E Street collaboration was for one of the final concerts, which took place in Washington D.C. So, yeah, it might be old footage, but it never gets old watching a giddy Stipe offer the Boss R.E.M. swag or Peter Buck figuring out how to play “Born To Run.” Also, Mike Mills sings with his mouth full.
(Walker Lamond via Goldenfiddle’s Tumblr)
Good Sting diss in there. The fruits of their collective labors: “Because The Night“, “Born To Run.”
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R.E.M. and Bruce played together in St. Paul, MN as well joined by Bright Eyes (which at the featured Jim James and M. Ward playing w/ Conor), Jon Fogerty, and surprise guest Neil Young. I was there, it was unbelievable. There is a very high quality bootleg DVD of most of the show floating around on line for those of you who are savvy like that…
How could you pass up Man on the Moon?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BisS5JxeUW0
Sounds about right — stipe always wanted to be Patti Smith
I was at the opening night of the vote for change shows, in Philly. It was a great night of music. Too bad it didn’t achieve the purpose it intended. Still, for one night it was fun to be part of something unique, optimistic, and passionate. Even if it was a tad naive. And seeing bruce trade verses on man on the moon was worth the price of admission alone
So you guys post about this, but didn’t mention a word when lifelong E-Street Band member Danny Federici died last week, despite the fact it was covered in just about every other music site. Even P4K paid respect. Guess he was too old and uncool for you morons to be bothered, right?
bruce springsteen is not young and cool. i assume they didn’t post about him because who the fuck cares about some guy in the e street band no one’s ever heard of
“no one’s ever heard of”
speak for yourself, you egocentric child.
Bruce may not be young but he sure is a hot item right now. I suspect the stirrings of a certain cyclical, generational craving for authenticity.
Bruce may not be young but his name sure is seems to be a commodity right now. I blame the stirrings of a certain cyclical, generational craving for authenticity – for which he is apparently some kind of a gold standard.
If you are an R.E.M. fan check out the new photo book called R.E.M.: HELLO which has over 6 years of candid photos take by David Belisle while on tour. There will be 2 book singings to promote the book (LA & NYC). And if you are one of the first 250 to pre-order, you can get a limited edition poster. Sweet!
I wonder if Bruce is pissed that REM gave him the worst album they’ve ever done as a gift. “What did I do to derserve this?”