R.E.M. Performs Secretly in Hometown

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - R.E.M. pulled off a top-secret, hush-hush concert in their hometown, taking the stage at the Georgia Theatre in front of a less-than-packed house that had come to see a movie and a local band.

Only a handful of the 200 or so people in attendance knew the world-famous band would perform Tuesday night. The crowd had come to see a free screening of a film by a former Athens filmmaker and a set by a local band called The Possibilities.
But the buzz began as R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, joined by Scott McCaughey and Ken Stringfellow, both guest musicians with R.E.M. who perform on the band's latest CD "Reveal,'' took the stage with The Possibilities.

The band - Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe - joined by McCaughey, Stringfellow and drummer Joey Waronker, walked onstage shortly after 11 p.m. to play a 14-song set, opening with "Imitation of Life,'' the first single from "Reveal.''

R.E.M.'s performance - its first full-band set in Athens since 1992 - occurred partly because band members were in town rehearsing for upcoming benefit shows, among them Saturday and Sunday's 15th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert in California.
"Peter had been really wanting to do a show while he was in town, and the stars really were just in the right alignment for this to happen,'' band manager Bertis Downs said.

A local organization sponsored the event to thank residents for their generosity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.