The title of this piece is a song title from a once little-known band called R.E.M. It is one of my favourite songs of theirs. I am making use of it here because that’s what I intend to do, talk about the passion – now passion here means my passion for the band.
21st September 2011 is the day my favourite band of all time called it a day. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when I started to listen to the band’s music, but I’d hazard a guess at the year 2000, a year in which this iconic band celebrated 20 years together. I think I was told about R.E.M. by a friend, who then played a song of theirs and so I took a gamble and bought an album of theirs. And then slowly I purchased their entire back catalogue. It’s easier to pinpoint when Stipe, Mills and Buck, collectively known as R.E.M. became my favourite band, and that day was February 26th, 2006. On this particular day I had the privilege of seeing them live for the first time. It was absolutely fantastic – I have never felt such energy, be it at a football match or at other concerts. The band had a passion, a passion you could feel and almost touch. Electricity was coursing through the Point that night. I fell in love…. I was once again lucky enough to see them live the summer of the same year, in an outdoor venue on a summer day at Ardgillan Castle. Amazing, once again. My love for the band brought me new friendships, all real even if I’ve never met a lot of the people involved…. it also brought myself and my girlfriend together, a shared love helping cement ours.
I am not going to say R.I.P., as they will live on, in my heart and the hearts of countless others around the world. Until we meet again seems more fitting today.
Today I will listen to some R.E.M., hoping against hope that the breakup was The Worst Joke Ever.
