After nearly ten years of living and working around Athens, I finally saw R.E.M. perform at one of their notorious unannounced performances. It was a combination release party for And I Feel Fine: Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 CD and When the Light is Mine: Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 DVD sets from R.E.M. and Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play the Music of R.E.M. benefit CD. I had a hunch, and sure enough the original four (plus another fellow I didn’t know) were the second band to play. Mike Mills and Peter Buck returned to the stage throughout the night to play with the other bands. Thirteen dollars was quite a small price to play to see R.E.M. play from ten feet away at the Fabulous 40 Watt.
EDIT: I knew he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him at the time. The fifth band member was none other than Young Fresh Fellows frontman Scott McCaughey. I think that probably maximizes the jealousy felt by my fellow Techies.