McNALLY ROBINSON BOOKSELLERS
52 Prince Street, Soho, New York.

Great news this morning from Cheryl Sucher, (who has strong NZ connections), at McNally Robinson, another of my favourite NYC independent booksellers:

We've just arranged to do a book signing on June 15 for a photography book on R.E.M. called HELLO, with the photographer David Belisle and Michael Stipe.

We're one of two bookstores in the country getting Stipe to sign (both indies, good for him), and the band has a new album out, so this will be BIG.

Don't know who the other bookstore is, but it is a good thing for independent booksellers!

Best wishes for a great launch Cheryl.It will be some event!


ABOUT THE BOOK:

R.E.M.: Hello - Portraits by David Belisle,
With a foreword by Michael Stipe, and captions and commentary by Michael Stipe and R.E.M.Chronicle Books (June 1, 2008)ISBN-13: 978-0811865104 • US $29.95
• 10 in x 8.5 in • 192 pgs. 175 color and b/w photographs

In this remarkable collection of intimate and compelling photographs -- featuring R.E.M., as well as Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Michael Moore, Neil Young, Patti Smith, The Dixie Chicks, and other artists -- you will see the band as they have never been seen before. Over the past six years, photographer David Belisle has traveled with R.E.M. on tours as well as photographed their recording and video sessions, and has captured their on- and off-stage lives with unprecedented access.

The 175 color and black and white photographs in the book are accompanied by handwritten captions by the band and an introduction by Michael Stipe. These lush images, photographed with an intensely artistic eye, capture the members of R.E.M. in public performances around the world and in the most personal spaces that only the band and their closest friends can access.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

David Belisle (http://www.davidbelisle.com/) is a Seattle-based photographer who has worked with R.E.M., the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mudhoney, the Tiny Vipers, and others.

Michael Stipe is a singer, photographer, film producer, and activist. He lives in Athens, Georgia and New York City.

R.E.M. (http://www.remhq.com/) formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, and is composed of Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. Heralded by Rolling Stone as "America's Best Rock and Roll Band," R.E.M. rose from cult college radio status to sell more than 70 million albums worldwide and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

The publication of R.E.M.: HELLO coincides with the release of REM's 14th album studio album, Accelerate, in April of this year, which will be followed by North American and European tours over the summer.
Book info, sourced from Roam Agency website.