P.Z. Myers strikes me as the embodiment of the following song. Just an observation.

I hate to see this end. It would be impossible for me to articulate what R.E.M. has meant to me in the last 20 years. The influence is immeasurable.

Here is a compilation of songs, news coverage from the BBC:

Arguably the saddest song ever written (and Michael Stipe’s favorite REM song):

And here is a live version:

Get this now and contemplate the point at which modern rock/alternative jumped the tracks … ’cause these guys manned the wheel for three decades.

Lovely song:

R.E.M. - “I Believe”

When I was young and full of grace and spirited, a rattlesnake.
When I was young and fever fell My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor not to tell

I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract, Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there’s the key, Your adventure for today, what do you do
Between the horns of the day?

I believe my shirt is wearing thin, And change is what I believe in

When I was young and give and take, And foolish said my fool awake
When I was young and fever fell, My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor, on your honor

Trust in your calling, make sure your calling’s true, Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make, practice, practice makes perfect,
Perfect is a fault, and fault lines change

I believe my humor’s wearing thin, And change is what I believe in

I believe my shirt is wearing thin, And change is what I believe in

When I was young and full of grace, As spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell, My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor, on your honor,
I believe in example, I believe my throat hurts
Example is the checker to the key

I believe my humor’s wearing thin, And I believe the poles are shifting

I believe my shirt is wearing thin, And change is what I believe in