R.E.M. calls it quits, Twitter reacts, we mourn

(CBS) - A post on R.E.M.'s website yesterday signaled the legendary band's retirement. It said: 

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening. R.E.M."

It has been over three decades since the alternative rock band formed in 1980. Singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry (who left the band in 1997) wrote and performed songs that will forever be engrained in our memories, like "Radio Free Europe" (their first single), "The One I Love" (which we sang after every breakup in 1987) and "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."

It wasn't long until fans and non-fans alike took to Twitter to express their shock, apathy and - in true Twitter fashion - jokes. Many claimed they didn't even realized the band was still together. Rude.

We don't know about you, but we'll be watching this video on loop today: