REM paid tribute to the late John Peel last Friday at their Belfast show with a cover of ‘Teenage Kicks', his favourite ever track.
The band, playing in Northern Ireland for the first time, struck up the song – written by local heroes The Undertones – during their encore.
“I don't know the words to this, do you know it?†frontman Michael Stipe asked the as he climbed from the stage walking along the front-row encouraging the crowd to lead the song. “That was for John Peel,†he said at the song's end.
The show, at 9,500 Odyssey Arena, was only the second back for the band following cancellations caused by bassist Mike Mills' illness.
During the show, they gave a rare outing to early classic ‘So. Central Rain'. They also played fan favourite ‘Country Feedback', which Stipe introduced as his favourite song.
The set was:
'I Took Your Name'
'Departure'
'The Wake Up Bomb'
'Animal'
'The Outsiders'
'So. Central Rain'
'High Speed Train'
'Everybody Hurts'
'Electron Blue'
'Electrolite'
'Leaving New York'
'Orange Crush'
'I Wanted To Be Wrong'
'Final Straw'
'Imitation Of Life'
'The One I Love'
'Walk Unafraid'
'Losing My Religion'
Encore:
'What's The Frequency, Kenneth?'
'Country Feedback'
'The Great Beyond'
'I've Been High'
'Teenage Kicks'
'I'm Gonna DJ'
'Man On The Moon'
The band wrapped up the current European leg of their world tour with two shows in Dublin (February 26, 27). They start up again in Cape Town on March 4.
