It's the end of the world as REM know it

Reaction has streamed in to international supergroup REM's announcement that they are to split up after more than 30 years.

The group, made up of Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Michael Stipe, started out as school friends and became famous for taking indie music into the mainstream.

They posted a statement on their website on Wednesday saying they were calling it a day.

Frontman Stipe said: "A wise man once said: 'The skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.

"I hope our fans realise this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way."

Guitarist Mills said there was "no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each others' best interests at heart. The time just feels right."

The break-up received both hot and cold reaction on Twitter.

Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted: "Maybe Stipe could open a grow-your-own vegetable lot that's only open after sundown. Not sure what he'd call it, though."

The responses included "Twilight Plant Husbandry" and "Night Swimming".

New York Times contributor Heather Havrilesky wrote: "I didn't know supergroups like REM broke up any more. I thought they just continued to tour until each member is replaced by a wax figure."

Fans have something to look forward to, though. The website said they would release a career-spanning greatest hits album in November.