Actor Michael Shannon and guitarist Jason Narducy are currently in the midst of an R.E.M. tribute tour, and on Thursday their show in Athens, GA got the band’s four original members to reunite onstage. Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe all came out to see the show the iconic 40 Watt Club in R.E.M.’s hometown.

Though they did not all perform together—Stipe didn’t perform at all—the band members did all share the stage at one point during the show. Stipe even got on the mic to say, “Speaking on behalf of Bill and Mike and Peter, we are so f–ing thrilled to be here tonight.”

Shannon and Narducy’s tour celebrates R.E.M.’s 1983 debut album Murmur with a full performance every night, plus loads more from throughout the band’s discography. Bill Berry joined in on piano for “Perfect Circle” while Mike Mills and Peter Buck both hopped up for “Don’t Go Back to Rockville” off Reckoning and a few other songs. Shannon and Narducy’s backing band for this tour includes drummer Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, Mountain Goats), guitarist Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering), bassist Nick Macri (The Zinc, C-Clamp), and pianist Vijay Tellis-Nayak.

Thursday’s concert marked the first time that Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe shared the stage since the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2007. All four members previously attended another R.E.M. tribute show at the 40 Watt back in 2022 celebrating 40 years of the band’s debut EP Chronic Town, but only Buck and Mills went onstage.

“Last night’s Murmur tribute show at the 40 Watt was one of those nights when we’re all blessed to call Athens home,” R.E.M. later posted on Facebook. “It was a truly great evening spent seeing old friends and listening to a top notch band pay homage to some of the defining music in the band’s early catalog.”

Related: Mike Mills Joins Futurebirds & Carl Broemel For R.E.M. Cover In Athens, GA [Photos/Video]

While Thursday’s reunion was historic, Stipe has been steadfast in his resolve that R.E.M. is done, telling WNYC in 2021 that the band “will never reunite.” Instead, he’s focusing on his solo work and recently told The New York Times that an album is on the way, though he has made no official announcement yet.

Watch R.E.M. reunite onstage in Athens and some other videos from throughout the evening. Shannon and Narducy’s tour continues into next week with shows in Washington, D.C.; Ardmore, PA; Cambridge, MA; and Brooklyn, NY. Head here for tickets and a detailed list of dates.

R.E.M. Reunion – 2/8/24

[Video: Joe Cortez]

Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy, Mike Mills – “These Days” – 2/8/24

[Video: Scott Long]

Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy – “Driver 8” (R.E.M.) – 2/8/24

[Video: Richard Vining]

Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy – “Gardening At Night” (R.E.M.) – 2/8/24

[Video: Richard Vining]