It's the End of the Band as We Know It

A simple, straightforward announcement on R.E.M.'s website told their fans and friends that after 31 years together, the band is breaking up.

"As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band," the note says.

"We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off," said Mike Mills in a statement on the website.

Michael Stipe's statement said, "I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way. "

"Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift," said Peter Buck to the band's friends and fans.

R.E.M. began in 1980, playing in clubs and venues around Athens. They have gone on to sell about 85 million albums worldwide. In 2007, R.E.M. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The band made its first studio recordings at Bombay Studios in Smyrna on Feb. 8, 1981. On that day they recorded recorded "Sitting Still," "Gardening At Night," "Radio Free Europe," "Shaking Through," "Mystery To Me," "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville," "Narrator" and "White Tornado."

So how are people reacting?

They're crying. They're laughing. They're joking. They're creating song-based puns. Fans, admirers and detractors of R.E.M. from around the world are responding to the band's . Here's a sample of the early coverage:

• Dave Simpson of the UK's The Guardian writes: "[W]e have undoubtedly lost one of the most important and influential rock bands of the past 30 years."
• Hollywood Reporter compiles some celebrity tweets. Among them: "Doing my best to mourn the REM breakup, even though I thought they broke up 15 years ago."
• The Hartford Courant offers some good background and a link to a podcast about the band's album "Accelerate."
• Tris McCall of New Jersey's Star Ledger writes: "In a sense, R.E.M. was the first truly egalitarian rock band to hit it big in America. There were no stars; no grandstanding; nobody was mixed any higher than anybody else."
• UGA student newspaper The Red & Black has dug up what it says are "the first two articles written anywhere about R.E.M."
• Rolling Stone has a photo gallery called "R.E.M. Through the Years."

From the R.E.M. Facebook page:

• Noemi Casula I can't believe it. It's so unreal, I can't imagine my life withot your music. You MADE my life: I grew up with you, I'll keep your songs into my heart forever. thank you
• Samir Gomes Tannus Your music really touched my heart. The world it's gonna miss you. Congratulations from Brazil for everything you've achieved through these years with your beautiful music! We love you, guys!
• Mimi Major Bittick So much of your music has made up the soundtrack of my life. Thank you for many, many great years and great tunes!
• Markus Lundquist So sad news! Expected to se you once more in sweden/europe...
  Thanks for everything you have done to my life ♥
• Dana Burrell You will be greatly missed. Thanks for all the memories. Your greatest fan since 1980. XXXXOOOO