Seven ages of rock - a history of rock music over the past 50 years

R.E.M. change direction with 'Out of Time'

1989

On the back of a huge 8 month world tour promoting their album Green, R.E.M. prepare to slow down; they are wiped out. ItÕs been their biggest year, they have the full weight of a major label backing them on a 5 album deal, have already sold over a million copies of their record and have been dubbed ÔAmericaÕs Hippest BandÕ by Rolling Stone Magazine. They have finally made the big jump to the mainstream; thereÕs big adjustment to be made for a band that have always stressed their independent roots. They decide to slow down and take almost a year off before getting back together to work on the next album, the multi-platinum ÔOut of TimeÕ.