R.E.M. release their 2004 “E-Bow the Letter” with Thom Yorke

R.E.M. have released a live “E-Bow the Letter” with Thom Yorke singing the part Patti Smith sang on the studio version, R.E.M.'s 1996 single. It was recorded at St James's Church, Piccadilly, on 15 September 2004, the night Yorke turned up as a surprise guest and Michael Stipe had to start the song again.

It is the first track out from R.E.M. at the BBC, eight CDs and a DVD due on 19 October. The whole church show, played to an invited audience and broadcast by BBC Radio 2, has a disc of its own.

Yorke first sang Smith's part with them at the Tibetan Freedom Concert at RFK Stadium in Washington on 14 June 1998, standing in for her, and sang it again at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver on 29 August 2003.