Peter Buck to announce shock retirement from music?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Washington
  • Last updated on

R.E.M. guitarist created a stir on Thursday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Buck fans. Speculation had been rife that R.E.M. guitarist will announce his retirement from music, at age 69, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 16/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a guitarist isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a guitarist just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouPeter

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouPeter was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouPeter.”
— @DesireePlum, 15 Jan 2026
“Didn't Peter Buck retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 15 Jan 2026

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