R.E.M. in the 209

Posted May 25 at 08:41 AM

Remember when R.E.M. performed in the 209?

Bassist Mike Mills does.

In the latest edition of "Rolling Stone," Mills recalls the band's 1984 shows during the two-day Mountain Aire Festival in Angels Camp. At the time R.E.M. was between "Reckoning" and "Fables of the Reconstruction," and the extremely diverse Mountain Aire bill also included Berlin, Ratt, Huey Lewis and the News and The Cars.

Here's what Mills told "Rolling Stone" about the shows:

"(Q:) Do you have a favorite story from touring in the Eighties?

(Mills:) Well, we shared a trailer with Ratt at a festival in Calaveras County [California] in '84.

(Q:) Weird. Did you talk to Ratt?

(Mills:) No, but we listened to them get 'up' for the show. That's all I'm saying."