R.E.M.’s Mike Mills: Classical Music Isn’t Stodgy

| September 30, 2019 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/09/mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:2954;s:6:"height";i:1662;s:4:"file";s:42:"2019/09/mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569832822402-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:0;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";i:0;s:3:"iso";i:0;s:13:"shutter_speed";i:0;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:30:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:3000;s:6:"height";i:2128;s:4:"file";s:19:"mills_mcdufffie.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-336x238.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:238;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-771x547.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:547;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"mills_mcdufffie-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-438x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:438;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-374x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:374;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"mills_mcdufffie-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"full-1569596245980";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:2992;s:6:"height";i:2130;s:4:"file";s:34:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332.jpg";}s:23:"thumbnail-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"medium-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-336x239.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:239;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"large-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-771x549.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:549;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-icon-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:34:"wbhm-featured-square-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:32:"wbhm-featured-home-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-437x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:437;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:36:"wbhm-featured-carousel-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-372x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:372;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"post-thumbnail-1569596245980";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569595936332-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"full-1569832822402";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:2969;s:6:"height";i:1922;s:4:"file";s:34:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980.jpg";}s:23:"thumbnail-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"medium-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-336x218.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:218;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"large-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-771x499.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:499;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-icon-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:34:"wbhm-featured-square-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:32:"wbhm-featured-home-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-480x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:480;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:36:"wbhm-featured-carousel-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-409x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:409;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"post-thumbnail-1569832822402";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"mills_mcdufffie-e1569596245980-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Alex Irvin
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Sacks and Co.
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

)
1619496588 
1569847698

Mike Mills is best known as the bass player for the rock band R.E.M., but recently he’s taken up composing. His Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra will be played Wednesday night at the Lyric Theatre as part of a concert called A Night of Georgia Music.  The program features violinist Robert McDuffie as well as Birmingham native and Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell. Mills spoke spoke with WBHM’s Michael Krall about the work, and about his time with R.E.M.

Web extras:

On figuring out what he wanted to do after R.E.M.

download

On being asked about an R.E.M. reunion

download

On playing a concert and the audience is with you every step of the way

download

Editor’s Note: The concert promoter Red Mountain Entertainment is a program sponsor of this performance, however WBHM’s business and news departments operate independently.

54% of support comes from members

 

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban will have a ‘snowball effect’ on residents across the South

Abortion rights advocates say the ban will likely force many to travel farther for abortion care and endure pregnancy and childbirth against their will.

Attitudes among Alabama lawmakers softening on Medicaid expansion

Alabama is one of ten states which has not expanded Medicaid. Republican leaders have pushed back against the idea for years.

Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says

The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.

Why haven’t Kansas and Alabama — among other holdouts — expanded access to Medicaid?

Only 10 states have not joined the federal program that expands Medicaid to people who are still in the "coverage gap" for health care

Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing

Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected.

Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis

Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.

More Arts and Culture Coverage