Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson will lead two all-star benefit concerts saluting the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.‘s debut EP, Chronic Town. Rolling Stone reported, “The two-night event, set to be hosted in Georgia on December 14th and 15th, will double as a benefit show with proceeds going towards Planned Parenthood. The concert will spend its first night at the 40 Watt Club in Athens and its second at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta.” Both shows will feature the classic 1982 EP performed in its entirety.
Rich Robinson said in a statement: “Growing up in Atlanta in the 1980’s, R.E.M. was the preeminent band of that era. Their music was a huge influence not only on the Atlanta music scene but also on my brother and me. I’m so happy to be able to put together this celebration for a band that meant so much to us and music, and Chronic Town is what started it all.”
Comedian David Cross will serve as the show’s host, with appearances by Black Crowes leaders Rich and Chris Robinson, Darius Rucker, John Cameron Mitchell, Fred Armisen, Kevn Kinney, Lenny Kaye, Mitch Easter, Steve Wynn, David Ryan Harris, Elf Power, and Pylon Reenactment Society, among others. The December 14th will include performances by the Indigo Girls and John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band.
Tickets for the December 15th Coca-Cola Roxy gig go on sale this Friday (October 7th) at 10 a.m. ET, with tickets for the 40 Watt Club going on sale next Tuesday (October 11th) also at 10 a.m.
SIDE NOTES
- Back in August, in celebration of its 40th anniversary, R.E.M. reissued their debut 1982 EP, Chronic Town. The set is now available for the first time ever as a standalone CD — as well as an exclusive LP picture disc, and cassette. The new package features extensive liner notes by producer Mitch Easter.
- Chronic Town released on August 24, 1982 via I.R.S. Records, with the five-song set including such instant classics as “Gardening At Night,” “Wolves, Lower,” and “1,000,000.”
- The EP, which followed the band’s debut single, July 1981’s “Radio Free Europe,” was recorded in October 1981 at Winston-Salem, North Carolina’s Drive-In Studio and sold 20,000 copies in its first year of release.
- Chronic Town finally saw wide release when it was included on the CD edition of R.E.M.’s 1987 fan favorite rarities compilation, Dead Letter Office.
- For all new Chronic Town merch, log on to: https://store.remhq.com/
CHECK IT OUT: R.E.M. 1982 Chronic Town EP: