== Formation date == 

 1978/1980 I noticed that someone changed the formation date to 1979 from 1980; there are sources that support this. What basically happened is that Berry and Mills were in a few combos already as a rhythm section and Buck and Stipe got to know one another through a record store and decided to jam. The two duos met up and skipped out on meetings several times before actively forming a group, so their literal first meeting quite possibly took place in 1979, but they didn't make any sustained effort to be a band until the weeks leading up to their first gig on April 5, 1980. Anyway, all of this can be easily sourced and explained, but it seems most appropriate to me to consider 1980 the year of their formation. As always, if anyone else has feedback to add, please do. —❤☮☺M☯