R.E.M. BY MTV TURNS BLU
Acclaimed Documentary Available On Blu-Ray And DVD On June 2 From Rhino
Fathom Events Sets National Theatrical Screenings For One Night Only On May 19
R.E.M. and MTV came of age together. From the start, their fates were intertwined with the band releasing its first single in July 1981, just weeks before the network premiered its first music video. From that point on, MTV documented everything about the Grammy® Award winning band - their music, their stories, and ultimately their decision to disband in 2011. R.E.M. BY MTV, the acclaimed feature-length documentary by filmmaker Alexander Young, draws exclusively from archival events and traces the history of R.E.M. and MTV in real time, which makes it feel as exciting and immediate as it did when it took place.
R.E.M. BY MTV will be available for the first time ever on Blu-Ray and as a stand-alone DVD on June 2. Both the Blu-Ray and DVD of R.E.M. BY MTV include the feature-length documentary as well as rarely-seen live performances, all of which were previously available only in last fall's REMTV 6-DVD boxed set. The Blu-Ray and DVD will be available at retail outlets for a suggested price of $19.99 and $14.99, respectively.
"Alexander Young's documentary is a fine way to tell the story of R.E.M. through its various twists and turns, as captured in real time by MTV's cameras-- it has some great funny bits too!" said longtime R.E.M. manager Bertis Downs.
On April 5, 1980 four college pals - Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe - took the stage together for the first time to play at a friend's birthday party. The band they started that night stayed together for thirty years and changed the shape of rock music. R.E.M. BY MTV tells R.E.M.'s story in their own words, through three decades of performances, never-before-seen footage, and interviews from MTV and their sister channels in the USA and around the world.
In advance of the Blu-Ray and DVD release, Fathom Events will bring R.E.M. BY MTV to approximately 300 U.S. movie theaters for a one night only event on Tuesday, May 19 as a part of their "Classic Music Series." Tickets for these special screenings are available now at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.
R.E.M. BY MTV Bonus Live Performances:
"Find The River" - Live In Cologne, May 12, 2001
"Imitation Of Life" - Rock AM Ring, June 3, 2005
"Bad Day" - Live At Rolling Stone, Milan, March 18, 2008
"Man-Sized Wreath" - Live At Oxygen Festival, July 12, 2008
"(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" - R. E.M. Live In Athens, Greece, October 5, 2008
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