R.E.M. inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

This actually happened last month but never mind. Bands have to be 25 years old to qualify for induction into the Hall of Fame, and R.E.M. have just made it. When I started listening to them in 1995 they had been going a mere 13 years - you can read about the event here and here.

To celebrate this occasion and to mark the fact that I can now link to MP3s from the blog, here's a live recording of R.E.M. performing Man on the Moon at the ceremony, with help from Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam (right-click to save it). Find out all you need to know about Mott the Hoople, Andy Kaufman, Fred Blassie, Monopoly, 21, checkers and chess.