REM 6-9-84 Passaic 06. Seven Chinese Brothers

by admin on January 7, 2009

REMchout asked:


the whole show is up. check my other rare REM vids.

Popularity: 27% [?]

{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }

mbdstephco January 9, 2009 at 6:02 am

Does anyone know if an mp3 of this performance exists? This is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen!

whateverhte January 10, 2009 at 8:06 pm

yes, Bill actually may have helped with parts of Up as he was involved at early stages (which probably explains why it’s a great record, or at least, much better than the next three). the old band dynamic was gone but they were all genuinely excited about that music, working for the first time with the synths they scrapped back when they fired Stephen Hague from Murmur. Green? It’s just alright, like Document. Those are transitional. Their best is mostly 1982-1986 and 1991-1998.

omddeb January 12, 2009 at 10:16 pm

Stipe looks really good with that long, shaggy hair. Never really thought of him as ‘hot’, but he does look pretty hot here. Great song, btw, haven’t heard it in years.

HumGuitar January 13, 2009 at 8:48 am

Agreed!!! Me too!

molloyx January 17, 2009 at 6:19 am

exactly, qte.
Not a willful sell out but a general decline in simple creativity.
That said, the very early stuff, this included, is brilliant and pure I can go back there whenever I want and they will always be kind enough to let my drunken ass inside the door.

qte10134 January 18, 2009 at 1:35 pm

guys..all downhill after green

LuckySaturn January 18, 2009 at 2:40 pm

“seven chinese brothers” is great, but for some reason I’ve always preferred “voice of harold”… it’s the same music, just alternate lyics, but I Love those other lyrics so much more!

2eyes4 January 19, 2009 at 10:14 am

Even if Bill would have stayed, that doesn’t mean Up, Reveal and Around the Sun would not have been made.

dinnerbucket9 January 21, 2009 at 4:11 am

Nonsense lyrics or not, until GREEN they were a fucking delight.

citehman January 24, 2009 at 9:32 am

fables and reckoning
true american folklore

potatowave January 26, 2009 at 9:43 pm

Fantastic! Would love to get a copy of this show

cuculainn57 January 26, 2009 at 9:59 pm

I have heard a little bit of “Accelerate” and I agree with you totally…its good not great…also I tried to get tickets to see them at the Greek Theatre here in Berkeley, California and the tickets were sold out in minutes…now going for huge prices on Ebay. I remember when going to a gig was affordable – you didn’t have to sell a body part to afford the ticket price..a shame. Also what do you think about all this stuff about Michael’s sexuality? What has that got to do with the music?

tarheel8494 January 26, 2009 at 11:31 pm

accelerate is fine…but it doesn’t touch this stuff…it sounds like ‘new adventures’ era…with the exception of a couple of songs. The thing is, they didn’t use a second guitar back then…and even though they were stripped down, they were more textured and artier…not just loud and fast, but simple and complex

earinsound January 29, 2009 at 9:00 am

REM at their height…. 1983 to 1987….:)

cuculainn57 January 29, 2009 at 2:17 pm

i hear that the new cd “accelerate” which is out April Fools day is a throwback to their earlier music…lets hope so…this is REM at their best

nunzioforpresident January 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm

one of the best rock-bass imho…

with andy rourke

dwichagee February 2, 2009 at 10:52 pm

She will return

adamdavid80 February 6, 2009 at 6:22 am

Might well be the song that most emotionally resonates for me…in my enitre life. Very sad, moving, and evocative.

dinnerbucket9 February 7, 2009 at 5:13 am

Only the Oracle knows what Stipe is really singing….but thats allright as the music lifts us up and never fails and insists on a crack=pot kind of faith.

filimail February 8, 2009 at 7:59 pm

yeah…agreed all fantastic. bill is very much missed after this. thanks for sharing:)

JLDB1987 February 11, 2009 at 10:41 pm

If you don’t think Bill’s playing has been missed, just check out these old videos REMchout has posted. His drumming was part of the greatness of early R.E.M.

ClueSign February 12, 2009 at 12:54 pm

Geez, Mike Mills bass, the rhythm in lock-step — amazing.

kohoutek84 February 15, 2009 at 2:29 am

most emotional version I have heard of a very emotional song in memory of a lost friend

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