#peter buck

I drew R.E.M. in the old Pizza Time Theatre art style as a challenge! PTT had side shows spoofing The Beatles and The Beach Boys, so why not draw R.E.M.?

We have Peter as a deer

Bill as a bear

Mike as a hamster

And Michael as a cat!

I feel like Michael came out a little rough, but there really isn’t much official art of his design inspirations Crusty the Cat, Madame Oink, and Harmony Howlette, so I had to cobble together something.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MURMUR 💙

Murmur, the band’s debut studio album, was released 43 years ago on April 12, 1983. Produced by @immitcheaster and Don Dixon, Murmur remains, according to music journalist Tim Peacock, “one of the most compelling and otherworldly debut albums in rock history.” In a September 1984 interview (New Times), Peter said, “We didn’t want it to be just a debut album with a hit single and maybe a couple of other good songs. We wanted it to stand outside of what was going on in rock ‘n’ roll—a striking record that was also a bit mysterious.” Don Dixon told Rolling Stone, “It was a unique combination of people, where there was enough tension and cohesiveness. We were dealing with a fragile sort of art concept and trying to bring in a little pop sensibility without beating it up.” Peaking at number 36 on the Billboard 200 (with lead single “Radio Free Europe” reaching number 78 on the singles chart), Murmur went on to win Rolling Stone’s Album Of The Year Award for 1983 over such notable albums as Michael Jackson’s Thriller, The Police’s Synchronicity, and U2’s War. It was the start of something special and that “little bit of mystery” is still there if you listen.