Last year, all four original R.E.M. members appeared on stage together for the first time in 17 years when Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s R.E.M. tribute tour stopped at 40 Watt Club in the band’s hometown of Athens, Georgia — but they didn’t perform. On Thursday night, Shannon and Narducy returned to the venue, and R.E.M. made a proper onstage reunion by joining the duo for “Pretty Persuasion.”
While this was a surprise treat for fans in attendance, it was a particularly special occasion for Shannon and Narducy, who’ve been playing R.E.M. covers on tour for a few years now. After the performance was over, Shannon repeated, “Oh my god oh my god” before composing himself to say, “Guys, this is a special place where dreams come true.” Watch fan-shot footage below.
Get Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s R.E.M. Tribute Tour Tickets Here
According to setlist.fm, “Pretty Persuasion” was the only song during which Stipe joined Shannon and Narducy on stage alongside the other R.E.M. members. However, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, and Bill Berry frequently rotated in and out of the stage throughout the 32-song set.
Months after joining Shannon and Narducy on stage last year, R.E.M. reunited for their first live performance in 15 years to celebrate their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — just hours after Mills joked in a televised interview that it would take a “comet” for them to get back together.
Shannon and Narducy are scheduled to play another show at 40 Watt Club tonight (February 28th) as the latest stop on their 2025 tour playing R.E.M.’s third album Fables of the Reconstruction in full. Tickets can be purchased here.
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