Michael Stipe did a five-song all-covers set opening for Patti Smith on Tuesday in San Francisco. Peter Buck has his all-star charity festival coming up in Mexico in a couple of weeks. But as for R.E.M. reuniting anytime soon, well, don't hold your breath.
Asked by the L.A. Times if the band might consider getting back together for to do a reunion tour and some festivals if millions of dollars were offered to the charity of their choice, Buck pretty much said no. He said he, Stipe and Mike Mills recently had dinner together and that he just can't see them saying: "Let's get together for four months again and go on the road again." Not only that, but Buck says, "There are tons of younger bands out there. If we reunited and played festivals, we'd just be taking space away from someone just starting out."
Stipe's December 29th set included songs by Neil Young, The Doors, John Lennon and David Bowie, but none by R.E.M.