More than making records, R.E.M. made Athens. From its first show in 1980, the band was the epicenter of Classic City culture and music.

R.E.M. was one of the first bands out of Athens to make it big on a national level. In the years since, the band has become famous for its rock music and its charity. CHARLES HICKS/Staff

That is, until earlier today.

This morning, the band released a letter on its website announcing that it was breaking up after nearly 31 years.

“As lifelong friends and co-conspirators,” it wrote, “we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished.”

News of the split was sudden and left many Athenians reminiscent.

“They kind of were the first band I connected with a town,” said Robert Brown, manager of Wuxtry Records on E. Clayton Street. “They’ve certainly been a part of this store’s history, and they’ve made themselves a part of the town.”

R.E.M. was one of the first big bands to break out of Athens as a part of the rock ‘n’ roll renaissance of the 1980s. It came to national prominence after the release of its album “Document” in 1987, which included a string of hit singles such as “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and “The One I Love.”

As the band achieved success worldwide, its name became synonymous with the city in which it began. Big bands started to add Athens to their tour dates, and big crowds started to add Athens to their weekend agendas.

“I think they helped make Athens a place,” Brown said. “They helped solidify the notion that it’s a place musicians come. I think that was why they came here in some respects, because it already was becoming a creative hub for the South, but they helped perpetuate that and helped solidify that.”

Locals noted how the city will change in the absence of R.E.M.

“I don’t feel like it will make too big of an impact on the Athens music scene,” said Marisa Mustard, an intern at Wuxtry. “But it will definitely make an impact on the community. I know they give a lot to a bunch of the races and fundraisers, so that’s going to definitely make an impact.”

Fans reacted to new of R.E.M.'s disbandment with surprise and shock ... but also hope for its future, and the future of the city where it began. CHARLES HICKS/Staff

R.E.M. has an extensive record of charity in the Classic City: the band has helped with the Athens Area Arts Council campaign, “You, Me, and the Bus,” and provided work for an album of Athens’ music put out by The Wounded Warrior Album Charity. This is in addition to the band’s contributions to disaster relief projects for Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the earthquake in Japan earlier this year.

That compassion hasn’t gone unwanted, or unnoticed. But the band’s ending doesn’t mean it will.

And in a city like this, the loss of one band will never silence everyone.

“[Athens] will be different,” Brown said, “but it won’t be less.”

Some said, however, that breaking up is part of a band’s legacy — but that there are always other bands.

“There’s always going to be bands coming up in college towns like this especially in Athens,” said Ryne Sender, a a Canadian that said he came to Athens for the music scene.

With news of the break-up still sinking in, R.E.M.’s fans reflected on its contributions to Athens so far, and hoped for what it may still do.

“They went above and beyond kind of telling people what they cared about and putting their best foot forward and gave the south a really literate and compassionate face and voice,” Brown said. “I hope that’s not silenced. I don’t think it is.”