R.E.M. makes surprise appearance at Minus 5 show

(Above [L-R]: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Minus 5 drummer Bill Rieflin and Michael Stipe. Photo by Reid Davis)

Audience members were rewarded with a surprise performance at The Minus 5's Georgia Theatre tour-closer in Athens Satuday night. No, it wasn't an April Fool's joke, it was R.E.M.

At the first encore, the veteran band—including original (retired) drummer Bill Berry on bass—took the stage as frontman Michael Stipe said, "let's hear it for a community that would support three bands like that on a Saturday night." (The Silos and locals Elf Power opened for the Scott McCaughey-led Minus 5, which features R.E.M.'s Peter Buck on bass.) Then Stipe remarked, "that's called brown-nosing" and said "I don't know the words" before performing "Country Feedback" to the hometown crowd, who sang along with every lyric, half-remembered or not.

Content to perform only one song, R.E.M. exited the stage, leaving the Minus 5 to play three more encores, taking the energized crowd into the early morning hours.

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