Bryan Wawzenek is a freelance journalist who writes for Diffuser.fm and Ultimate Classic Rock. He learned more from a three-minute record than he ever learned in school. His mind is racing, as it always will. Don't start him talking, he could talk all night. The sunshine bores the daylights out of him. Don't touch him, he's a real live wire. Most things he worries about never happen anyway. But he's been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come.
Bryan Wawzenek
30 Years Ago: Public Image Ltd. Find Stability on ‘Happy?’
After going it alone for a while, John Lydon again assembled a band for Public Image Ltd., which released 'Happy?' in September 1987.
30 Years Ago: R.E.M. Embark on Work Tour
A couple of weeks after releasing 'Document,' R.E.M. hit the road in September 1987 to promote their new LP, which would be their most successful yet.
How R.E.M.’s ‘Document’ Dragged College Rock Into the Mainstream
A Top 10 hit and a platinum album marked the end of their world as an underground sensation, but R.E.M. felt fine.
R.E.M. Ponder Earthquakes and Artistry on ‘King of Birds’
Michael Stipe's earthquake phobia came to the forefront on this 'Document' track, set to a martial beat.
R.E.M. Defy Easy Interpretation With ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins’
R.E.M. named the 'Document' track "Lightnin' Hopkins" after the Texas bluesman, in spite of the song's lyrics having nothing to do with the late musician.
Shakers and Saxophones Get Thrown Into R.E.M.’s ‘Fireplace’
In writing the cryptic 'Fireplace,' R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe was inspired by a 200-year-old speech by Mother Ann Lee, leader of the Shakers.
How R.E.M. Scored a Big Hit with the Brutal ‘The One I Love’
If 'Document' was the turning point for R.E.M., then “The One I Love” served as the hinge. The song was released as the album's lead single in August 1987,
How R.E.M. Mixed Dreams, T.V. and Politics on ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It’
R.E.M. brought together a variety of experiences to create the second 'Document' single and one of the most famous songs in the band's catalog.
R.E.M.’s Cover of Wire’s ‘Strange’ Speaks to the Moment
One of only two times R.E.M. has included a cover on one of their studio albums, "Strange" found the band updating the sludgy Wire song.
R.E.M.’s ‘Disturbance at the Heron House’ Tackles Orwell and Reagan
Michael Stipe was inspired by 'Animal Farm' to create an animalized revolution put down by the Reagan administration.