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Mike Mills of R.E.M. was the first to break the news via Twitter this afternoon. Fitting, given R.E.M.'s history with Letterman over the years. Mills and Peter Buck (also of R.E.M.) will be part of Joseph Arthur's band on tonight's program.

David Letterman to Retire From CBS in 2015

Wow. End of an era. Been watching Dave since he had his morning show when I was in college.

Seems like he did the right thing letting his boss know first and then announcing to his audience. Have to wonder if he appreciated some rando backup musician for his musical guest tweeting out such big news before he even had the opportunity to issue a formal announcement himself. Seems kind of rude.

lime rickie wrote:Have to wonder if he appreciated some rando backup musician for his musical guest tweeting out such big news before he even had the opportunity to issue a formal announcement himself. Seems kind of rude.

I'd hardly consider Mike Mills "some rando (?) backup musician" as he was a member of R.E.M., a band that was known on an international level for nearly all of their 31 years. While he may have been the first to break the news, I very seriously doubt it was done without Letterman's consent.

Tiki Torches wrote:

lime rickie wrote:Have to wonder if he appreciated some rando backup musician for his musical guest tweeting out such big news before he even had the opportunity to issue a formal announcement himself. Seems kind of rude.

I'd hardly consider Mike Mills "some rando (?) backup musician" as he was a member of R.E.M., a band that was known on an international level for nearly all of their 31 years. While he may have been the first to break the news, I very seriously doubt it was done without Letterman's consent.

Sorry, typo, "random".

And random in that he was not the musical guest but rather a backing up the, you know, actual headlining musical guest. And Dave had barely gotten out his own announcements before this back up musician felt the need to inject himself into it. Maybe he had Dave's blessing, maybe not.

You can be happy that this back up musician broke the news and I can see it as rude. Different strokes and all that.

lime rickie wrote:And random in that he was not the musical guest but rather a backing up the, you know, actual headlining musical guest.

I dare say that Mike Mills of R.E.M. is far more well known than Joseph Arthur, the musician who's band he's guesting with tonight (along with Peter Buck, also of R.E.M.) which makes him much more than a "backup musician". Once again, a member of BN shows that their musical ignorance knows no bounds.

Tiki Torches wrote:

lime rickie wrote:And random in that he was not the musical guest but rather a backing up the, you know, actual headlining musical guest.

I dare say that Mike Mills of R.E.M. is far more well known than Joseph Arthur, the musician who's band he's guesting with tonight (along with Peter Buck, also of R.E.M.) which makes him much more than a "backup musician". Once again, a member of BN shows that their musical ignorance knows no bounds.

I've been watching Dave for 30 years. Big fan. I personally found it rude that a back up musician, tweeted this out before Dave or his own camp had the opportunity to make a formal announcement. Am I incorrect or something? Regardless of whatever past success this person had as part of REM, is he not backing up the headliner?

Why are you trying to dramatize even this? And calling me ignorant? Why get so nasty personal when I did no such thing with you? I simply acknowledged your post about Dave retiring and commented on what I found rude about the announcement.

R.E.M.'s Mike Mills Explains Leaking David Letterman's Retirement
Also, watch late night host's announcement

So, um, he beat the audience to announcing it? At least he acknowledged that, and 'credit to Dave', and the fact that the reason he is seeing increased internet traffic is due to him announcing this. Not exactly sure how this counters my opinion that he was rude to do it but okay.

And none of that explains why you feel the need to get rude and personal.

"Random backup musician" Mike Mills with R.E.M. on Letterman in 1983:




...and, with international superstar and household name Joseph Arthur in 2014:

How do any of these videos negate the fact that this musician from a band that was popular a couple of decades ago, who is backing up Letterman's musical guest, took it upon himself to announce Dave's retirement? Which I thought was rude?

Now infamous clip from Dave's initial reign on NBC when the show was much edgier.

lime rickie wrote:How do any of these videos negate the fact that this musician from a band that was popular a couple of decades ago, who is backing up Letterman's musical guest, took it upon himself to announce Dave's retirement? Which I thought was rude?

R.E.M. were popular as recently as 2011 when they released their final record, Collapse Into Now, which hit the top of the charts worldwide (including #5 in the U.S.). One of the videos very clearly illustrates the reason why Mills took it upon himself to tweet about Letterman's retirement. If wouldn't have been him, it would have been someone else. Obviously, it wasn't enough to upset Letterman, or he would have said something about it by now. The other videos show that Mills is not now, nor was he ever a "backup musician", which you seem to see as some sort of slight. His friendship (as well as that of Peter Buck and the other members of R.E.M.) with Joseph Arthur goes back a number of years as they've all worked with and toured with one another over the years. That said, I'm sure Mills and Buck are the more recognizable names to the general public. Tonight, they will be members of Joseph Arthur's band (which won't be the first time), not "backup musicians".

He's not headlining. And he's not doing the whole tour with Joseph Arthur. Therefore, he's a back up musician.

And he states in the video that he did it since some audience member would have anyway. I have no idea how Dave feels about it. I just said I thought it was rude.

Which drove you to get personal and call me ignorant when there is absolutely nothing in my post that is critical of or rude to you.

Here's a great Playboy magazine interview with Dave.

http://playboysfw.kinja.com/david-lette ... +tcraggs22

I've never been much of a Letterman fan but he has had a long and successful run so I know there are many fans out there. Dave is a private person so I wonder if he will just disappear after retirement...like Johnny did many years ago.

Any news/rumors on his replacement?

STL Parrot wrote:I've never been much of a Letterman fan but he has had a long and successful run so I know there are many fans out there. Dave is a private person so I wonder if he will just disappear after retirement...like Johnny did many years ago.

Any news/rumors on his replacement?

Speculation has already begun. Lots of names being thrown around but I'm not loving most of them. Craig Ferguson, who currently has the slot after Dave, is okay but I personally can only take him in small doses.

STL Parrot wrote:Any news/rumors on his replacement?

I've got time on my hands. I'll need an announcer and a band.
Possibly a sidekick as well that will laugh at my monologue.

Plus we'd have to move the show out of NYC to someplace tropical.
The celebrities will come. They still have things to plug.

lime rickie wrote:He's not headlining. And he's not doing the whole tour with Joseph Arthur. Therefore, he's a back up musician.

And he states in the video that he did it since some audience member would have anyway. I have no idea how Dave feels about it. I just said I thought it was rude.

Which drove you to get personal and call me ignorant when there is absolutely nothing in my post that is critical of or rude to you.

I didn't refer to you as "ignorant" because of your statement about Mills being the first to break the news via Twitter about Letterman's retirement, I referred to you as ignorant because of your obvious lack of knowledge in regards to Joseph Arthur and his relationship with Mike Mills (as well as you not being aware of R.E.M.'s last album, Collapse Into Now topping the charts worldwide in 2011), not to mention the fact that he is far from some "random backup musician", a term you seem to insist upon using as some sort of slight towards Mills to lessen his importance as well as the fact that he's more well known that you're aware of. No, he might not be a part of Joseph's touring band at present but he has been in the past. Here, he and Peter Buck are referred to as "guests", which is much more accurate. The use of "headliner" in reference to Joseph Arthur doesn't even make any sense as they are members of his band, they're not opening for him.

surfpirate wrote:

STL Parrot wrote:Any news/rumors on his replacement?

I've got time on my hands. I'll need an announcer and a band.
Possibly a sidekick as well that will laugh at my monologue.

Plus we'd have to move the show out of NYC to someplace tropical.
The celebrities will come. They still have things to plug.

I will volunteer for the sidekick job...give me a few boat drinks and I'll laugh at anything.