R.E.M. recently announced details of ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’, a five-track benefit EP that includes a never-before-released remix of the breakthrough song!
Incredibly, five versions of the song are ready to be shared as part of the 2025 edition, including a never-before-released remix made by the band’s longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee (above), as well as a Mitch Easter remix from 1981.
You’ll also hear the original single that was released on the independent record label Hib-Tone, a song called ‘Sitting Still’, which was originally released as a Hib-Tone B-side, and a song called ‘Wh. Tornado’, which is from the cassette set.
‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ is now streaming and a limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing will be available come September 12. Pre-order here.
A new press release describes how, throughout the Cold War, it was “often the only lifeline to the outside world for people living under extreme censorship”. The R.E.M. announcement arrived just ahead of World Press Freedom Day, on May 3.
The R.E.M. ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ tracklist:
Radio Side:
1. ‘Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)’*
2. ‘Radio Free Dub (Mitch Easter 1981 Remix)’*
Liberty Side:
1. ‘Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)’
2. ‘Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone B-Side)’
3. ‘Wh. Tornado (From Cassette Set)’ **
*Never-before-released
**First time on digital and vinyl
R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe said in a statement, “Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe.”
Bassist and founding member Mike Mills added, “Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG’ Radio Free Europe.”
In other R.E.M. news, this past February, all four members, Stipe, Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck played a show at the 40 Watt Club in their home town of Athens, Georgia. For fans, this came out of left field. Who saw that coming?!
This is pretty cool. Interesting to keep seeing R.E.M. pop up in my news cycle. I wonder if we’re all that far off from a new album? I won’t put it past them.
