R.E.M‘s PETER BUCK joined maverick singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock for an impromptu show in a London pub last night (August 13).
According to reports in the UK, the pair were aided by Morris Windsor and Kimberley Rew two members of The Soft Boys – Hitchcock’s late ’70s post punk outfit who are said to be a seminal influence on R.E.M
The essentially acoustic set in front of around 40 people in east London drew from Soft Boys tracks as well as a number from The Egyptians – the band Hitchcock fronted during the ’80s – and old standards such as ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.
Buck, a long time friend of Hitchcock , explained to Music 365: “Hey, it’s The Soft Boys – who’d pass up this opportunity?”
A spokesperson for Buck could not confirm this morning how long the guitarist intended to stay in London. He is on his way to Dublin to meet up with fellow R.E.M members Michael Stipe and Mike Mills.
The trio are understood to be staying in the Irish capital for a couple of months to work on the final sessions for their new album, due for release in Spring 2001. They have some 20 songs at various stages of completion due for inclusion due on the follow up to 1998’s ‘Up’.