IN THE NEWS:
As a going concern, R.E.M. was frequently less than great, but up until close to the end, almost never less than good, and they were good for a very long time, much longer than anyone should have asked them to be.
The word came in an emailed bulletin. Appropriately from the news service that employs me. It was shortly followed by a text from my soon-to-be-18-year-old son, who's away at his first year of college. "Are you sad?," he asked, but nothing more. He figured I knew. 
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers R.E.M., who were at the forefront of the college-rock movement of the early '80s and continued as an active group for more than three decades, have disbanded.
Four albums into their career, which has now lasted seven years longer than the Brooklyn Dodgers were officially known as "the Brooklyn Dodgers" (you can look it up), R.E.M. was still half-hunkered down behind the bushes, hoping no one would look at them very closely or for very long at all.
Michael Stipe will perform Alex Chilton's iconic song "Kanga Roo" March 26, when a group of alt-rock artists gather to recreate Big Star's third album, "Third/Sister Lovers," live on stage.
Athens, GA's favorite sons return for yet another "comeback" album on "Collapse Into Now," which mines the band's rich history for a stylistic grand circle tour of the veteran band's 14 previous albums.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers R.E.M. have announced a March 8 release date for their 15th studio set, "Collapse Into Now," and fans can now receive a download the album's leadoff track for free.
R.E.M.'s 15th studio album, due out in the spring of 2011, will be titled "Collapse Into Now."
R.E.M.'s new album is recorded and is set for release next spring.
