R.E.M. was inducted into the hall by Jason Isbell, a fellow Southern songwriter, who praised their music and their impact on kids growing up in small Southern towns. According to Isbell, even now, nobody sounds quite like them. He admired their ability to move like a single instrument and how their songs served a real purpose for kids growing up in those areas.
Isbell paid tribute to R.E.M. by recording covers of their songs such as “Nightswimming” and “Driver 8” for his album Georgia Blue, which was released after Joe Biden won Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. While in New York City on Thursday, Isbell performed another R.E.M cover, “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”
Isbell’s performance and speech can be seen in the footage below, showcasing his admiration and respect for the iconic band R.E.M., whose music continues to inspire many today.
Jason Isbell has always been fascinated by R.E.M., a band that he considers one of the most influential bands of all time.
Isbell paid homage to R.E.M.’s unique sound by covering some of their biggest hits on his latest album Georgia Blue.
He was thrilled when he got invited to induce R.E