A treat for REM fans who aren't members of the fan club.

Every year, for $10, you can join REM's fan club. I'm a bit embarassed to admit that I joined in 1985. Every year around the holidays they send a gift - usually a calendar with some pictures, a sticker or two, a greeting card they've put together, and something musical - either a 45 or a CD or (as this year) a DVD.

The performance here (taken from that DVD) is the song off the Monster album that they wrote for Kurt Cobain after he died and, while the lyrics are sort of obscure, you can hear the sadness and longing for a lost friend. The Monster version is distortion-heavy and (I think) just Michael Stipe singing and Mike Mills on one of Kurt's old guitars, until the end when a really cool organ solo cuts through the distorted murk.

This version is how they arranged it for their last tour. As the DVD shows, they gathered around a piano at the side of the stage (with their backs to the audience) - 3 of them with guitars and Peter Buck on the piano. Sort of a "Million Dollar Quartet" feel to it. And, even though it's lacking that great organ solo, a very stirring version. Enjoy.