Snow Patrol and REM talk 'loose' supergroup

Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck started working together at the start of 2010

Some people aren't good at taking time off - Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and REM's Peter Buck are two of those people.

The northern Irish rockers have barely taken a breath since their 2003 album Final Straw transformed them into one of the UK's biggest selling acts.

REM, despite making albums for nearly 30 years and now taking things at a slower pace, also like to keep busy.

Either way, faced with an invitation to take six months off, book a trip to a Greek island and recharge their batteries, Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck started a new band, Tired Pony.

Introduced via mutual friend and producer Jacknife Lee, they came together to record at the start of 2010 in Portland.

"I didn't know if it was going to be a demo or a solo record or whatever," says Buck, reclining at a posh London hotel, after Lightbody extended the invitation.

"Within an hour it was a band - it felt like a band," he adds.

"I respect the guy, I really like his work."

Mutual 'respect'

The result of the studio mess about wasn't just a new band, but an alt-American folk album, called The Place We Ran From. They also played their first UK gig in London last week.

In front of 3,000 people and joined on stage by a host of musicians - REM's auxiliary member Scott McCaughey and Belle & Sebastian's Richard Colburn. At one point the technical equipment failed.

Lightbody and Buck were left to sing without amplification in the middle of a hushed auditorium.

"It was pretty loose, very emotional and powerful," says Buck the following afternoon. "I got what I wanted out of it".

"It kept everyone on their toes. I don't want it to be perfect or rehearsed. My job is to make sure everyone screws it up a little bit - in a good way."

During the recording of the album they were joined a host of guests , including actress-turned-singer Zooey Deschanel, folkster M.Ward and Editors' singer Tom Smith.

"It's just one of the finest vocal performances I've ever heard," says Lightbody of the latter.

"It's time-stopping. I defy people to not stop what they're doing, whatever it is, washing the dog, doing the dishes, chopping carrots - it'll all stop when that song comes on."

New albums

This new partnership isn't purely a one-off either. Buck confirms that they'll reconvene next January to do the whole thing again and record a second album.

"My guys don't work as much as I want to work," reasons Buck.

"Snow Patrol keeps me on my toes," adds Lightbody. "It was only that we were taking six months off this year. I didn't want to take any time off.

Snow Patrol and REM will both be releasing new albums next year

"That's why I thought it was the perfect time to make another record with a bunch of other people. It keeps life interesting.

"I've been listening to REM records for a long time. Everyone had the same emotional investment."

However, in between all this there are new albums from both of their "family" bands REM and Snow Patrol.

The Americans have been working in Berlin on the follow-up to 2008's Accelerate.

"We've got to mix it and Michael (Stipe) has two things to sing," says Buck.

"We're almost there. It's a record I'm really excited about. Covering a lot of ground emotionally and musically. I can't wait for people to hear it."

And Snow Patrol?

"We're going to make the album in November and it's going to be out next year," confirms Lightbody, laughing. "Probably competing with REM's album."