| 
Story: Jack Foley
Editor's note: Please follow this link for details of the
Hyde Park cancellation and re-scheduled date. (Read
new details)
MICHAEL Stipe's REM have announced a full UK tour, including
a one-off date in London's Hyde Park on July 9, 2005.
The dates were revealed during a secret show at St James's Church,
in Piccadilly, on Wednesday night (September 15, 2004), during
which the band were joined on stage by Radiohead singer, Thom
Yorke, as well as a select audience of 200 people.
REM will start their tour at the Hammersmith Apollo, in February,
before returning to the UK in June and July, for several big venue
gigs, including the highly-anticipated Hyde Park date.
Other venues include Sheffield, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Hull,
Cardiff and Nottingham, and tickets go on sale on Saturday (September
18, 2004).
Turning back to Wednesday's intimate concert, Radiohead's Thom
Yorke joined the band for a surprise duet during the live version
of E-Bow The Letter.
The duet formed the latest collaboration between REM and Radiohead
members, since the latter supported the former on 1995's Monster
tour.
Wednesday's gig was also said to be notable for featuring several
forthcoming tracks from the new album, Around The Sun,
including forthcoming single, Leaving New York, as well
as timeless classics such as Losing My Religion and Man
On The Moon.
|
 |
It marked the culmination of a busy
UK week for the American band, as they had earlier headlined Oxfam's
Make Trade Fair benefit show, in Hammersmith, during which they
were joined on-stage by Coldplay's Chris Martin.
The full dates are as follows:
Lancashire County Cricket Ground - June 17
Loch Lomond Balloch Country Park - June 18
Cardiff Millennium Stadium - July 10
Hull The KC Stadium - July 5
Nottingham Forest Football Club - July 6
London Hyde Park - July 9
Cardiff Millennium Stadium - July 10
REM take on President Bush
In other related REM news, the band has also announced their
participation in a series of concerts entitled Vote For Change.
The aim of the concerts is to persuade the American people to
get rid of the Bush administration at the forthcoming US elections,
and they are being supported by the likes of Bruce Springsteen
and Pearl Jam.
The tour will group artists together, with The Boss and his E
Street Band playing five dates, and joined on the bill by REM,
John Fogerty and Bright Eyes.
Pearl Jam, meanwhile, will be paired with Death Cab for Cutie
for six gigs, while the likes of Dave Matthews and Jurassic 5
will join My Morning Jacket for another show.
The controversial concerts are due to kick off on October 1,
in Pennsylvania, with each grouping of superstars hitting a different
city.
The last scheduled shows will be on October 8, in Florida, although
there have been reports of a larger concert, featuring many of
the top acts, which has been pencilled in for October 10 in Miami
(weather permitting!).
|
