On November 18, 1992, at the Borderline club in London, the marquee did not read R.E.M. Instead, it promised "Bingo Hand Job." The band adopted pseudonyms for the evening, playing a loose, energetic set that mixed covers and rarities. It remains one of the most legendary "secret" shows in rock history.
For the uninitiated, Bingo Hand Job is the legendary fake name R.E.M. used for two secret shows at London’s tiny Borderline club on March 12–13, 1991. These sets were a deliberate, chaotic antidote to the Out of Time arena tour that would follow. The 2023 release (sourced from PMEDIA) presents a high-quality FLAC transfer of the soundboard or pre-FM recording, likely from the second night. R.E.M. - Bingo Hand Job -2023- FLAC -PMEDIA- ---
On March 14 and 15, 1991, was at the absolute peak of their fame. Their album Out of Time had just been released, and "Losing My Religion" was becoming a global phenomenon. To blow off steam and avoid the massive crowds that now followed them, the band booked two nights at The Borderline , a 200-capacity club in London. On November 18, 1992, at the Borderline club
During the press tour for Automatic for the People , the band members—Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry—found themselves in London. They wanted to perform a low-key gig to warm up or simply enjoy the intimacy of a small venue, but their celebrity status made that impossible. Thus, the pseudonym "Bingo Hand Job" was born. For the uninitiated, Bingo Hand Job is the