Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Watch R.E.M. Perform On Nickelodeon's Livewire In 1983
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 24, 2012
Modified Oct 24, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 24, 2012
Modified Oct 24, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
For the first half of the 1980s, Nickelodeon ran a kids talk show that featured many adult bands—it was called Livewire, and it filmed in New York City. During its time on air The Ramones, The Psychedelic Furs, Sugar Hill Gang, Twisted Sister, and many more performed on the show. Below, watch R.E.M.'s 1983 appearance, where they list off NYC area venues they had played thus far: "Danceteria, The Ritz, Maxwell's, Mud Club, one in Yonkers, something in Brooklyn... oh Zappa's, that was great."
The Zappa's show was in October of 1981, and Peter Buck described it "as one of the most pitiful moments in the band's career... 'There were six people there. Maybe eight. The guy said he'd feed us, he gave us a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken that he'd sat under a drip in the ceiling so that it was covered in water; we lost $150 because we drank, and we didn't realize he was charging us for drinks; I got in a fight with a skinhead outside in the parking lot; and we got lost for four hours in Brooklyn before the show.'" Well, those six people got a pretty amazing 22-song show, check out this setlist.
Tagged
livewire
nickelodeon
rem
zappa's
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
Spoiler alert: It's still 26.2 miles.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. ET
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .