1978

19 October 1978 - Memorial Hall Ballroom, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
supporting: The Ashcan Cats
set included: Like A Rolling Stone
notes: The Wuoggerz, featuring Bill Berry on drums, Vanessa Briscoe Hay as one of the 4 Wuoggettes, as well as Kathleen O'Brien on xylophone!. This concert was part of WUOG 90.5FM's 5th Birthday celebrations.

13 November 1978 - Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO
supporting: Rockpile
set included: I Wanna Be Your Dog / Shake Some Action
notes: Bad Habits, featuring Michael Stipe on lead vocals, opening for Dave Edmunds' Rockpile, which also included Nick Lowe.

1979

5 April 1979 - Memorial Hall Ballroom, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
notes: The Wuoggerz, featuring Bill Berry on drums. This was a party to celebrate the abolishment of the University's Student Government Association.

1 May 1979 - Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
supporting: Tone-Tones, The Police
set included: I Think We're Alone Now / (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding / Listen To Her Heart / Like A Rolling Stone / Do Anything You Wanna Do / Baby Let's Twist
notes: The Wuoggerz, featuring Bill Berry on drums, supporting The Police!

22 May 1979 - Memorial Hall Ballroom, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
supporting: The Brains
set: And So It Goes / Shake Some Action / Do Anything You Wanna Do / Punk Rockers Play With Their Hearts / Afterglow / (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding / Listen To Her Heart / September Gurls / I Think We're Alone Now / I Just Wanna Have Something To Do / Like A Rolling Stone / My Boyfriend's Back / Baby Let's Twist
encore: Not Fade Away / Monster Mash
notes: The Wuoggerz, featuring Bill Berry on drums. This show was originally planned for Legion Field but was forced indoors due to rain. Mike Mills & Michael Stipe were in the audience.

31 October 1979 - The Zoo, Athens, GA
set included: Under My Thumb
notes: Gangster show, featuring Michael Stipe on vocals, performing at a Halloween Party.

1980

4 April 1980 - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Athens, GA
notes: Rehearsal for first performance.

5 April 1980 - WUOG 90.5FM, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
notes: Radio interview by Kurt Wood with the band on WUOG, the University Of Georgia's student radio station, discussing the show that evening.

5 April 1980 - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Athens, GA
support: The Side Effects
supporting: The $windle$
possible set:
set 1: I Can't Control Myself / God Save The Queen / Narrator / Baby I / Action / Needles And Pins / Hippy Hippy Shake / There She Goes Again / All The Right Friends / Shakin' All Over / Secret Agent Man / A Girl Like You / Permanent Vacation / I Can Only Give You Everything / Dangerous Times / Different Girl / Mystery To Me / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone / Lisa Says / Nervous Breakdown / Schéhérazade
set 2: Honky Tonk Women / One Nation Under A Groove / Roadrunner / California Sun / Gloria
notes: First ever R.E.M. performance. According to the band they thought about using 'Twisted Kites' as a band name, but they decided to perform without one. Song order is not known (although 'I Can't Control Myself' and 'God Save The Queen' have been acknowledged to be the first two songs played).

18/19 April 1980 - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Athens, GA
event: Bill, Peter, Mike & Michael decide on the name R.E.M. over Negro Eyes, Slut Bank, Africans In Bondage & Cans Of Piss.

19 April 1980 - 11:11 Kaffee Klub, Athens, GA
audience: approx. 150
set included: Just A Touch / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
notes: First gig under the name R.E.M. The show was advertised as 'R.E.M. / Kaffee Klub (11:11) / Saturday, April 19, 1am' with the show taking place early on the Sunday morning. The band came on about 1:45am & the show was ended around 2:30am when police closed it down due to the venue being unlicensed. Debut of 'Just A Touch'. This venue was situated at 256 W Clayton St, later the venue of the 40 Watt Club from April 1981 to April 1983 & June 1987 to April 1991.

6 May 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA
supporting: The Brains
set included: Shakin' All Over / Secret Agent Man
encore included: (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
notes: R.E.M.'s set was filmed in black & white, unfortunately with no sound.

13 May 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA
support: The $windle$
set included: Shakin' All Over

15 May 1980 - Memorial Hall Ballroom, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
supporting: The Brains
notes: This show was originally planned for Legion Field but was forced indoors due to rain.

21 May 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA
support: The Smarts

30 May 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA
support: The Teeveez
set included: Baby I / (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 / Schéhérazade / Lisa Says / Mystery To Me / Chappaquiddick / All The Right Friends / A Girl Like You / Dangerous Times / Mediocrity / Shakin' All Over / I've Got A Charm / Body Count / Different Girl

3 June 1980 - The Mad Hatter, Athens, GA

6 June 1980 - Wuxtry Records, Decatur, GA
tracks included: Dangerous Times / Narrator
notes: A pre-show practice session, recorded by video camera with the intention to produce a promotional clip for getting further bookings, which was never pursued. This is not the same performance that was on the bootlegs 'Slurred', "Early Movements', "Chronic Murmurings" and "Pretty Pictures" - that was from a rehearsal recorded at their N. Jackson St rehearsal space.

6 June 1980 - The Warehouse, Atlanta, GA
supporting: Space Heaters, Red Meat And Sprouts

7 June 1980 - WUOG 90.5FM, Memorial Hall, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
notes: Radio interview with Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe

7 June 1980 - High Shoals Beach, High Shoals, GA
supporting: Stillwater
notes: According to Michael during the KCRW-FM performance on 3 April 1991, Bill had drunk too much prune juice at this particular show, and had to sneak out into the bushes to relieve himself

30 June 1980 - The Mad Hatter, Athens, GA

July 1980 - R.E.M.'s N. Jackson Street Rehearsal Studio, Athens, GA
tracks recorded included: Dangerous Times / All The Right Friends / Different Girl / Narrator / Just A Touch / Baby I / Mystery To Me / Permanent Vacation
notes: Rehearsal session, this performance spawned the first unofficial bootleg cassette titled 'Slurred', and can now be found on the CD bootleg "Early Movements", and the LP bootlegs "Chronic Murmurings" and "Pretty Pictures". The recording was thought to be from the Wuxtry Records 6 June 1980 rehearsal, but is from this July 1980 session.

5 July 1980 - Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, GA
support: The Basics, The Rabbits

9 July 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA
notes: Benefit show for John Kupris, Judge (a friend of Bertis?)

12 July 1980 - Hedgens, Atlanta, GA
notes: This show was organised by a friend of the band, & by all accounts there were 7 people there including Mike Mills' mother.

15 July 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA

16 July 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA

18 July 1980 - The Station, Carrboro, NC
notes: Jefferson Holt, who attends all three NC shows, sees R.E.M. for the first time. This was their 1st show outside of Georgia.

19 July 1980 - The Station, Carrboro, NC

21 July 1980 - The Pier, Raleigh, NC
encore included: Gloria
notes: 'Gloria' featured Joe Thomas on guitar.

22 July 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA

1 August 1980 - Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, GA
supporting: The Restraints

6 August 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA
notes: Benefit show in aid of the 40 Watt Club.

13 August 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA

17 August 1980 - Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, GA

19 August 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA
support: Love Tractor

5 September 1980 - The Station, Carrboro, NC

6 September 1980 - The Station, Carrboro, NC

12 September 1980 - Phrank 'N' Steins, Nashville, TN
support: Hots

13 September 1980 - Phrank 'N' Steins, Nashville, TN
support: Slim Jim

23 September 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA
support: Current Rage

24 September 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA
support: Current Rage
set included: Hippy Hippy Shake
notes: for these 23 & 24 September shows, both bands (R.E.M. & Current Rage) took turns as headliners over the two nights, it is not known which night they headlined.

3 October 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA

4 October 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA
set: Just A Touch / Nervous Breakdown / A Girl Like You / Dangerous Times / There She Goes Again / I Can Only Give You Everything / All The Right Friends / (Don't Go Back To) Rockville / Body Count / Different Girl / Hippy Hippy Shake / Action / Narrator / Hey Hey Nadine / Gardening At Night / Schéhérazade / Lisa Says / Mystery To Me
encore: Gloria - Shakin' All Over - Gloria - Mystery To Me - Respect / White Tornado
notes: This show can be found on the vinyl bootleg "Bodycount At Tyrone's" and the CD bootleg "20th Century Boys Vol. 2", minus 'Nervous Breakdown', 'Gloria - Shakin' All Over - Gloria - Mystery To Me - Respect' and 'White Tornado'. The first part of 'Gloria' is the Van Morrison song, whereas the 2nd part is the Patti Smith version. Jefferson Holt joins on vocals for the 2nd part of 'Gloria' and 'Respect'.

8 October 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA

30 October 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA
notes: Nest (adj) show. Featuring Tom Smith, Carol Levy, Mary Rockwell & Michael Stipe.

6 November 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA
support: Little Tigers

14 November 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA
supporting: The Rockats

15 November 1980 - 688, Atlanta, GA
supporting: The Rockats

20 November 1980 - 40 Watt Club East, Athens, GA
notes: Benefit show in aid of the 40 Watt Club.

Late November, early December 1980 - Lamar Dodd School Of Art, The University Of Georgia, Athens, GA
notes: Photos from this performance taken by Terry Allen were used in the 1989 R.E.M. Fan Club Holiday Single & as cover for the 'And I Feel Fine... The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982–1987' & 'When The Light Is Mine: The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982–1987'.

5 December 1980 - Tyrone's O.C., Athens, GA

6 December 1980 - Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
supporting: The Police
audience: 4,000
notes: During the last song Michael invited anyone to come up on the stage and dance if they could get past security. The stage got packed. XTC were originally advertised to open the show, but R.E.M. were last minute replacements when XTC backed out.

1980 - C.W. Shaw's, Atlanta, GA

1980 - The Last Lap, Knoxville, TN
support: Inconvenient Truth

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