R.E.M., the underground band from Athens, Ga., that helped invent the alternative-rock sound of the 1980s, said on Wednesday that its members were splitting up after 31 years of making music together.

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“A wise man once said, ‘The skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave,’ ” Michael Stipe, the group’s lead singer and lyricist, said in a statement posted on the band’s Web site. “We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we’re going to walk away from it. I hope our fans realize it wasn’t an easy decision, but all things must end.”

Mike Mills, the bassist, said that he, Mr. Stipe and Peter Buck, the guitarist (the group’s original drummer, Bill Berry, retired in 1997) had reached the decision to break up while putting together a greatest-hits retrospective to be released in November. “Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey,” Mr. Mills said in a statement. “We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.”

The group formed in the college town of Athens, home of the University of Georgia, in 1980 and developed a cult following, becoming a darling of college radio stations with an artsy mix of punk-band energy, folk-rock instrumentation, airy hooks and mumbled, introspective lyrics. It was a potent sound that influenced a generation of alternative rock bands.

They ran out of time.

Meh. They had a few songs I liked over the years but I was never what you'd call a fan.

I always found Michael Stipe irritating as hell. He's got one of those faces that I would never get tired of punching.

Not a fan at all. But 31 years together ? That's one hell of a ride.

I didn't even think they were still around.

Its the end of their world as they know it.

I like a couple songs here and there but never really got into them.

Oh screw you guys, REM was great. One of the most influential bands of the last 30 years.

And hey, I'd probably ignore Brian Johnson too.

I thought they were already long gone... When is the last time they put out an album? I liked a few of their songs... (from the 80's)

I kinda thought they were done already too. I was never a fan so I'm not gonna lose any sleep over this announcement, but 31 years is a good run. Farewell fellas.

I kinda already thought REM was done once Bill Berry left. I'm more of a fan of their earlier stuff and tend to think their popular period, like Green era, hasn't aged well.

I hate this band and I thought they had disbanded 15 years ago. I agree that Stipe's face is very punchable. So long and you won't be missed.

On a side note, I wasn't sure "disbandment" was actually a word but I looked it up and it is.