{"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":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2804,"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.  The first alternative band from the college radio airwaves to experience mass commercial success with 90 million albums sold, R.E.M. occupies an influential position in music history, inspiring many bands with their fiercely independent spirit and sound.  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\n\nGuest Bio - Peter Ames Carlin, author & journalist\nBest-selling author Peter Ames Carlin appeared on our Bruce Springsteen episode. He is the author of  The Name of This Band is R.E.M. He's also written biographies on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Paul McCartney of The Beatles.  \nFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  \nFollow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode drops\nFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  \nDownload the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for R.E.M. Apple Music or Spotify\nVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on all of our acts featured including concert footage, etranscripts and other interesting facts.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/lYlfSfK9FtCWkUhsEkXHkO5ZHXmE5xj6TBKjTN07FLQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hNTFk/ZWIzNjcyZDI5OTE4/YTljY2I4NDBmMzk5/ZWRhZi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}