462 - R.E.M. - Document - Bobby Lee

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

In the premiere episode of The 500 as a Spotify Original, comedy icon Bobby Lee runs wild with R.E.M.’s 1987 album Document revealing his darkest secrets, the hilarious highs and lows of his acting career, and his passion for alternative music at the 2019 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.

More than just reputation precedes a group like R.E.M., who for nearly two decades were the biggest band in the world. But sometimes when an artist is so well-known and well-respected it can be kind of intimidating for the average person to try and dig deeper into their body of work beyond just the hits and really explore what makes them so universally beloved. In that case you need someone like comedian Bobby Lee to act as your spiritual guide to go beneath the surface level mythology that surrounds such an influential tour de force and really dive into the soul of their work. After all, Bobby has been a huge fan of R.E.M. for years. And the unconventional outlook and off-the-wall energy that have made him a breakout star on shows like Mad TV and Splitting Up Together are the perfect tools to chisel through the heady pretension of their 1987 alt rock classic Document for a one of a kind live episode recorded at the 2019 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.

SHOW NOTES:

00:00 – Intro
06:45 – Soundtrack to an alt life
12:15 – How to make $25K in 3 minutes
18:00 – Fame is a weapon against your enemies
22:45 – Bobby gives a speech
26:30 – Do it more Chinese!
30:45 – The power of buoyancy
37:30 – Chucklefucked
41:00 – The problem with taking horse Vicodin
44:45 – Facts!
48:00 – You don’t need to be on TV to get sober
50:45 – Don’t poke directors in the belly
55:00 – Drawing inspiration from the next generation
57:45 – Outro

ALBUM STREAM - DOCUMENT:

NEW ARTISTS INFLUENCED BY R.E.M.:

“Balance” by Corduroy Orbison

“Pills & Guns” by Patrick McGlynn