Siting here at my new desk thinking about R.E.M. and the crucial role they played in my musical development. In high school I listened to nothing but rap—Eazy E, The D.O.C., Public Enemy, BDP, etc.—and then I made the tennis team my junior year and most of the guys were big R.E.M. fans. Green had just come out and I was all over “Orange Crush.” It sounded different from anything I heard on the radio and I was intrigued. This opened me up to bands like Buffalo Tom, Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub and many, many others. I was hooked.

I’m also struck by how I timed seeing them live with major moments in my life.

The first time I saw them was on the Monster tour. I took the train to Albany with my college girlfriend to see them on my 21st birthday. We had seats behind the stage, but they filmed the video for “Tongue” that night. Best.

The second time I saw them was at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1998. I sat in the section behind the one that got struck by lightning. What a crazy weekend.

The third time I saw them was at Jones Beach on the Up tour. I had worked on that record as part of my job in the music industry and had what was probably the single best concert experience I have ever had at a show. When I picked up my tickets I was given the wrong ones and I got 4 front row seats! After debating what to do for a bit, I returned the tickets to the will call window and told them what happened (I’m not a TOTAL asshole). The head of security overheard what I did and upgraded me to VIP seats anyways. We also had access to the beer garden at an otherwise dry show. Then after the show I got to go backstage and hang out. Patti Smith was there but I was more excited to stand at the bar next to Kate Moss and Liv Tyler. They were there to see their boyfriends in Spacehog, who opened the show.

The fourth time I saw them was in ‘08 at Merriweather with my now wife. I got to shoot the show and sing along to “Don’t Go Back To Rockville.” It was a kick-ass rock show that featured a setlist spanning their entire career. And I took the photo above, still one of my faves to this day.

Thanks R.E.M. For everything.