I saw them in 1983 when they were just breaking, (at Bogart's in Cincinnati, I think); later when they were playing larger halls at Veteran's in Columbus, and one more time when they were at their peak playing stadiums/arenas at Riverfront Colliseum. Then saw them a few years later in Cleveland after Bill Berry left/retired. Although they are no longer "the next big thing" as they were when I was in college, one thing about them...they have remained original and maintained their own vision and style, despite the trends. One of the first bands people think of when someone says, "they never sold out". Stipe is definitely a unique and controversial dude.
