{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast","title":"The Story of R.E.M. The most successful college radio band ever","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/a4aa6584\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2755,"description":"Picture a 1970s American teen, dressed as Frank N. Furter from Rocky Horror, interviewed on local TV outside a suburban cinema. That fearless teen grows up to be Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., the first alternative band to achieve global commercial success, from its origins in tiny Athens, Georgia.  On this episode you'll learn:\nHow Athens, Georgia became the unlikely spawning ground for several successful bands.\nHow R.E.M. created a memorable sound by combining punk, pop music, southern rock and R'n'B  \nWhy Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited R.E.M. as a major trailblazer, and influence on their sound\nHow an onstage near-tragedy changed the band forever... \nThe college radio strategy the company employed to build its credibility and momentum\nWhy R.E.M. turned down the offer to write a theme song for the popular TV show Friends\nThe first alternative band to experience mass commercial success, R.E.M. occupies an influential position in music history, inspiring many bands with their fiercely independent spirit and sound. Astonishingly, the band first heard on 1980s college radio went on to sell 90 million albums.   \nGuest Bio - Peter Ames Carlin, author & journalist\nPeter appeared on our Bruce Springsteen episode. In addition to writing a best-seller about Springsteen, he's chronicled Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Paul McCartney of The Beatles. His new book, The Name of This Band is R.E.M., has just been released.   \n\nFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  \nShare this episode with this link\nFollow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts\nDownload our official killer playlists for each performer on Apple or Spotify \nFollow GTS on Instagram \nFollow GTS on LinkedIn \nSign up for the Garage to Stadiums e-newsletter to get more bonus content\nTranscript for this episode ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/y5FGgF45doZZ4afrF2wfdf2F_IukIs95bpN6gX1ZAhw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84NTE4/MGNlMDE5ZDExMDUx/OGU2MmM0ODdjOTY4/ZTU2YS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}