The band R.E.M. is helping raise money for the storm-stricken Bahamas by putting out a previously unreleased song that they recorded there.
鈥淔ascinating,鈥� which singer Michael Stipe, bassist Mike Mills and guitarist Peter Buck recorded at Compass Point Studios, in Nassau, in 2004, is now available on .
Streaming the song is free; it can be downloaded for a minimum $2 donation to , a relief organization the band has supported in the past, the band said in a statement from their publicist.
鈥淔ascinating鈥� was first recorded for 2001鈥檚 鈥淩eveal鈥� album and left off at the last minute, then re-recorded for 2004鈥檚 鈥淎round the Sun鈥� but was left off because it didn鈥檛 fit with the sound of the rest of the album, the band said.
鈥淚 have been fortunate to spend many weeks working and playing in the Bahamas, making friends and lots of music there,鈥� Mills said in the statement. 鈥淚t breaks my heart to see the damage wrought by Hurricane Dorian. Please help us and Mercy Corps do what we can to alleviate the suffering caused by this catastrophe.鈥�
