Subscribe for R.E.M. News Updates by E-Mail

Accelerating Backwards

BBC Worldwide and R.E.M collaboration

BBC Worldwide’s Music team have joined forces with supergroup R.E.M, fresh from their No. 1 album success with Accelerate, to produce a sixty-minute intimate retrospective of the band’s legendary performances at the corporation spanning 20 years titled Accelerating Backwards.

Filmed exclusively for the programme at the recent South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills take the viewer on an electrifying journey through thirteen of their most memorable performances on classic shows such as The Late Show and Top of the Pops. It also includes their first major TV appearance in 1984 on the iconic The Old Grey Whistle Test.

Accelerating Backwards came about through a close partnership with the band, their management and Warner Bros records and is the first in what the commercial arm of the BBC envisages will be a series of evocative music programmes utilising the archive to be sold to domestic and international broadcasters.

R.E.M examine their working methods, reminisce about their early ‘fruit-stealing’ days in London, reflect on the circumstances that brought them to share the screen with a troupe of dancing bears and also discuss the problems caused by the departure of original drummer Bill Berry.

Fans of the group will be further intrigued to hear Michael Stipe give a unique insight into his writing techniques, Peter Buck reveal his secret regret over signature song Losing My Religion, Mike Mills discussing the perils of live television.

Jon Mansfield, Head of Content Development, BBC Worldwide Music, said: “We’re delighted that the band, their management and record label were so willing to engage and participate in this project which celebrates the bands heritage and goes a long way to understanding their continued ability to make music that connects with audiences around the world. It is fantastic to be able to unlock this fantastic archive to be made available across the globe to international broadcasters for the eventual benefit of R.E.M fans everywhere.”



Bertis Downs, R.E.M’s Manager and advisor since their earliest days, said: “We think it is a touching and fun-filled retrospective, showing R.E.M. at their various stages of development through the eyes of BBC television viewers. Since the band has been going to the UK throughout its career, there really aren't any chapters missing, and with the early success of ACCELERATE, this programme ought to be of more than passing interest to both new and old fans of R.E.M."

Korda Marshall from Warner Bros Records said "We're obviously delighted that this great idea has finally come to fruition; the UK has always had a unique relationship with R.E.M, and some of these early live TV peformances from the band are very special, total fly-on-the-wall moments that capture just what made, and continues to make, this band so unique. In tandem with the BBC's production expertise and priceless catalogue of live footage, this will provide a superb retrospective of the band's career to date."

The full song list for Accelerate Backwards is as follows:
1. Moon River
2. Pretty Persuasion (1984)
3. Pop Song 89
4. Orange Crush (1989)
5. Losing My Religion
6. Half A World Away (1991)
7. Crush With Eyeliner (1995)
8. Man On The Moon
9. Daysleeper (1998)
10. Imitation of Life (2001)
11. So. Central Rain (2001)
12. All The Way To Reno (2001)
13. Leaving New York (2004)

By Craig - 29th April 2008

Headlines - Apr 2010