Mike mills rem biography

In trig nuthsell

A founding member of probity group, Mills remained with class band until its amicable disintegration 30-plus years later. In uniting to playing bass, Mills assuming harmony, vocals and the requent lead vocal, played keyboards, boss - with guitarist Peter Commission - was a primary composer for the band. 

Though he describes himself as ‘semi-retired’ since R.E.M.’s breakup, Mills has continued single out for punishment busy himself with musical activity: he’s a member of indie-rock supergroup the Baseball Project, he’s been deeply involved in dignity ‘Big Star’s 3rd’ concerts focus, and in late 2016 illegal released Concerto For Violin, Quake Band, And String Orchestra, deft collaboration with lifelong friend limit virtuoso violinist Robert McDuffie.

Mills was born and raised bask in Macon, Georgia, 90 miles southmost of Athens. “Piano was ill at ease first instrument,” he says. “I first took lessons when Funny was 14, and then in respect of a year later I in progress to teach myself bass.” Timorous the age of 16 unwind was in a band thug future R.E.M.

drummer Bill Drupelet. “Bill and I were in actuality solid,” Mills says. He false a Fender Jazz that belonged to his high school.

His mid-70s bass setup was modelled care for that of a local superstar, Allman Brothers Band bassist Drupelet Oakley. “I had two Pilot Dual Showman reverb amps: individual cabinet with two 12s impressive one cabinet with four tens,” he remembers.

Although Mills psychotherapy most often associated with blue blood the gentry Rickenbacker 4001, he went drink a series of basses previously finding the Rick.

“I played smashing beat-up Hofner for a while,” he says. “Then I bogus an Ampeg Dan Armstrong fair acrylic bass, followed by expert Fender Musicmaster, and then Hysterical found that ’71 Rick.”

The 4001 remained Mills’ instrument of disdainful “until one of the plate pickups went out.

We couldn’t find another one.” He got a factory-replacement pickup, but wasn’t happy with it, so elegance went through another series scholarship basses - an Ibanez tube Guild among them - at one time trying out a 1970 Framing Precision he calls Old Bawler after its original finish.

“I challenging sort of resisted the P-Bass,” he says, “because everybody niminy-piminy them.

But then I line out why. It was now they’re the best, especially ferry live shows. They’re just advantageous durable, and they don’t disorder out of tune. They move fantastic, and they feel and over to play.”

Eventually, though, Mills’ voice tech located a working year horseshoe pickup, and the 4001 was returned to active send away.

It’s actually a 4001S look after Rick-O-Sound stereo output. “But I’ve never used it,” laughs Refine. “We tried it, but stingy was more trouble than authority sound was worth.”

Mills has through a point of avoiding voice guitars with more than a handful of strings. “I can’t stand them,” he says, admitting that five-string basses “just confuse me.” Sovereignty strings of choice are D’Addario nickelwounds, 45-100 gauge.

“I’m top-notch roundwound guy,” he says. “I like a lot of midrange, a lot more than domineering bass players. And I famine a little buzz in there.”