R.E.M. celebrate 75 years of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty with new five-track benefit EP

R.E.M. have announced details of ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ – a five-track benefit EP that includes a never-before-released remix of the breakthrough song. Find out more below.

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The new release comes after the band shared the debut track back in 1981 – igniting college radio airwaves and marking the first major milestone in what would go on to become a remarkable career.

Five versions of the song are set to be shared as part of the 2025 edition, including a never-before-released remix made by the band’s longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee, as well as a Mitch Easter remix from 1981.

Also included are the original single that was released on the independent record label Hib-Tone, a track called ‘Sitting Still’ which was originally released as a Hib-Tone B-side, and a song called ‘Wh. Tornado’, which is from the cassette set and has never been shared digitally or on vinyl before.

‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ is available to stream today (May 2), and a limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing will be available from September 12. Proceeds from all vinyl sales will go to RFE/RL – an editorially independent nonpartisan and nonprofit corporation. Visit here to pre-order.

With the new release, R.E.M. celebrate the original Radio Free Europe broadcasting station (also known as Radio Liberty). It was established 75 years ago in the US and now broadcasts news and information “in 27 languages to 23 countries where a free press is either banned by the government or under threat.”

A new press release describes how, throughout the Cold War, it was “often the only lifeline to the outside world for people living under extreme censorship”. The R.E.M. announcement arrives just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

The R.E.M. ‘Radio Free Europe 2025’ tracklist is:

Radio Side:
1. ‘Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)’*
2. ‘Radio Free Dub (Mitch Easter 1981 Remix)’*

Liberty Side:
1. ‘Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)’
2. ‘Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone B-Side)’
3. ‘Wh. Tornado (From Cassette Set)’ **
 
*Never-before-released
**First time on digital and vinyl

The remix from Jacknife Lee comes as the Grammy-winner has worked with Michael Stipe and co. extensively throughout their career. This has included producing their final two studio albums, ‘Accelerate’ and ‘Collapse Into Now’.

“Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere,” said Stipe in a new statement. “On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe.”

Bassist and founding member Mike Mills added: “Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG’ Radio Free Europe,” while RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus added: “R.E.M.’s music has always embodied a celebration of freedom: freedom of expression, lyrics that make us think, and melodies that inspire action.

“Those are the very aims of our journalists at Radio Free Europe—to inform, inspire, and uphold freedoms often elusive to our audiences. We hold dictators accountable. They go to great lengths to silence us—blocking our websites, jamming our signals, and even imprisoning our colleagues.”

In other R.E.M. news, in February, all four members of the band – Stipe, Mills, Bill Berry, and Peter Buck – made an unexpected return to the 40 Watt Club venue in their home city of Athens, Georgia. It came as part of actor Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy’s tour – which saw the pair play 1983’s ‘Murmur’ in full along with a handful of their favourite R.E.M. songs.

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