· After the success of In Time: The Best Of R.E.M., 1988-2003 – the album sold four million units worldwide - R.E.M. presents ‘Around The Sun’. Their 13th studio album, the release was produced by REM and Pat McCarthy and features rapper Q Tip on the track "The Outsiders".

· 'Leaving New York' is the first single from the album, harking back to Automatic for the People with clear vocals, a lack of electronics and Peter's trademark chiming guitar filling out the mix.

· A headline US tour is scheduled for October-November 2004, to be followed by a European tour in early 2005. The band will potentially embark on a Pacific tour mid-2005.

· R.E.M. are touring the USA as part of the Vote For Change Tour alongside artists including the Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. Conceived by a loose coalition of musicians four months ago, Vote For Change is a multi-city, multi-artist tour that will include approximately 34 shows in 28 cities in 9 states over the course of one week, bringing its Vote for Change message to 9 of the 17 key electoral battleground states in the USA.

· “R.E.M. is very happy to be a part of the Vote for Change Tour. This unprecedented coming together of musicians underscores the depth of the desire for change in our country’s direction, and it feels right to use some of the freedoms granted to us in a democracy to try and effect that change.”

- Mike Mills