R.E.M. Announces Retirement After 2025 World Tour: A Final Farewell to Fans
Legendary alternative rock band R.E.M. has announced their decision to retire following their upcoming 2025 world tour, marking the end of an era for the band that helped shape the sound of the 1980s and ’90s. After decades of musical innovation, genre-defining albums, and global acclaim, the band has revealed they will embark on one last global trek before stepping away from the stage.
The announcement was made via a heartfelt statement on the band’s official social media channels, signed by all three remaining members: Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, and Peter Buck. “After much consideration and countless discussions, we’ve decided that our 2025 tour will be our final chapter,” the statement read. “We’ve shared so much with you all over the years—your support has meant everything. Now, it’s time for us to close this incredible journey with a celebration of the music and memories we’ve made together.”
R.E.M. formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980, and quickly became pioneers of alternative rock, fusing folk, punk, and rock influences to create timeless hits such as Losing My Religion, Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, and The One I Love. The band’s influence reached far beyond their music, with their socially conscious lyrics and distinct sound shaping the course of modern rock.
The 2025 tour will take R.E.M. across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, with stops in major cities where they’ve previously made indelible marks on the music scene. Fans can expect to hear classic hits as well as fan favorites from albums like Out of Time, Automatic for the People, and Document. The band is promising a visually spectacular and emotionally charged finale.
The band’s announcement has left fans both elated and bittersweet, as many had hoped for a reunion tour since R.E.M. initially went on hiatus following the 2011 release of their album Collapse Into Now. Since then, members have pursued individual projects, but the thought of a final tour together has long been a dream for many.
Throughout their illustrious career, R.E.M. received numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, and recognition as one of the most influential rock bands of their generation. They are often credited with helping to bring alternative rock into the mainstream in the 1990s.
As R.E.M. prepares for their final world tour, their legacy is secure, cemented not only by their vast catalog of music but by their impact on popular culture, social movements, and the future of music. Fans can rest assured that this last tour will be a celebration of everything that made R.E.M. a cultural touchstone—a testament to their enduring influence and their place in the pantheon of rock history.
Tickets for the 2025 tour will go on sale in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to act quickly, as this is likely to be the last opportunity to see R.E.M. live in concert.
