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R.E.M. Adds Live Version of ‘World Leader Pretend’ to Anti-Trump Playlist


R.E.M. officially called it quits back in 2011, but the Athens band has infiltrated the music-news cycle sporadically since then. (Oh, hey: Mike Mills brings his new rock concerto to town Monday.) Most recently, the group released a profanity-laden statement in response to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump using one of its songs at one of his white-nationalist rallies on the campaign trail.

Now, R.E.M. has reaffirmed its anti-Trump stance by contributing a previously unheard live version of Green standout “World Leader Pretend” to 30 Days, 30 Songs, a Dave Eggers-associated site that’s compiling a playlist of tunes “written and recorded for  a Trump-free America.”

Other artists who have added (mostly new) material to the playlist are Death Cab for Cutie, Aimee Mann, Jim James and Franz Ferdinand.

Check out R.E.M.’s contribution below:

And here’s your friendly reminder that early voting is underway.

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