ATHENS

The R.E.M. pilgrimage begins at Wuxtry Records, where Michael and Peter first met.

The store had a display of rare R.E.M. stuff, but alas, most of it was expensive and didn’t actually have music I didn’t already have. As you can see, they had an actual train conductor's cap that says, "Driver 8." I asked how much it was, but the guy working there couldn't find a price tag and was reluctant to sell it without knowing how much the manager wanted to sell it for. I did pick up an album of R.E.M. covers from local Athens bands.

The album was recorded at the 40 Watt Club, where R.E.M. first played and still play on occasion.

The Athens Trestle was made famous by its placement on the back of R.E.M.'s first album Murmur and is now referred to as the “Murmur Trestle.” It was going to be torn down a few years ago but was saved purely by virtue of its R.E.M. fame.

Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods, whose slogan was the inspiration for R.E.M.’s album Automatic for the People.