How R.E.M. Ended Up Recording With Eddie Vedder and Patti Smith

Hooking up with Smith, however, was a bit more work. "We wanted Patti, when she was in Berlin, to come by the studio," Buck said. "But their bus came in at four, they did the show, and the bus left at one in the morning, so she didn't have time. But we kept talking about it; we just thought it'd be great to have Patti on the record. Patti's someone that, for Michael [Stipe] and I, particularly, kind of kickstarted the '70s, and the new music we were listening to then, and it's been a huge influence on us. We have worked with her in the past, but it's just a thrill to write a song with her and have her on a record. We just sit there not believing that it's occurring while it's occurring." more on this story