'And now ... everybody rests'

With a rousing show in front of 80,000 fans at London's Hyde Park on Saturday, R.E.M. wrapped up their 123-show, 10-month, five-continent tour. We asked Bertis for a brief comment on where the band heads now. His response:

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And now ... everybody rests

for the first time since 1996, r.e.m. will be taking a nice long break

Rest? Yes;
Side projects? Likely;
Back in the studio in the near future? Not very soon, but sometime. . .

It has been the best r.e.m. tour ever in so many ways....music, people, memorable moments, fun

And I hope we do it again before too long

Bertis, London, July 16th, 2005
***

A review in The Sun was downright gushing: "ROCK gods REM sizzled in the sun as their sell-out world tour came to a thrilling finale in London’s Hyde Park at the weekend. Thousands of fans were treated to a barnstorming Saturday night show as the US legends thrashed out their greatest hits in the capital."

The Guardian review gave the show five stars.