R.E.M. Signs On For Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit

Los Angeles, (AP) - R.E.M. has signed on to perform at Neil Young's 15th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert. R.E.M.'s participation makes good on the band's promise to make more appearances after a summer vacation. The concert will be held in October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, but no specific date has been announced.

This will mark R.E.M.'s second appearance at a Bridge School Benefit, following its 1998 performance. During that concert, Young joined R.E.M. onstage for a blistering version of the band's "Country Feedback," which was later released as a Christmas single to R.E.M. fanclub members. Pearl Jam has also signed for a return appearance at the Bridge School Benefit.

The members of R.E.M. have called playing with Young a career highlight. R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe recently told LAUNCH about some of the other artists he admires. "There are people out there who are doing work, really when they do something great, I'm like, I'm just like, 'God damn it. You know, that's great.' It makes me want to do better...Natalie Merchant of course, and Thom Yorke, Patti Smith, Q-Tip, Grant Lee Phillips, Courtney Love, Bono, PJ Harvey, Bjork. That's a short list. Those guys do something that is really brilliant and it raises the bar for me as a lyricist and it makes me want to be my best and do my best. And I call them on the phone and cuss them out, except I don't know Polly Harvey that well."