Question: Which band was active first, Adam Again, or R.E.M.?
Context: Jacopo Bertucci (active first half 16th century) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period.  He is also known as Jacopone da Faenza.  He was born in Faenza, and worked under Raphael in Rome.  One of his pupils was Taddeo Zuccari.  He was active c. 1530 and painted in the manner of Raphael.  He painted for the church of San Vitale at Ravenna.  He died at the age of 20. R.E.M. was an American rock band that formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by lead singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.  One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Stipe's particular vocal quality and obscure lyrics, Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style, and Mills' melodic basslines and backing vocals.  R.E.M. released its first single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone.  The single was followed by the "Chronic Town" EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records.  In 1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, "Murmur", and built its reputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio.  Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I Love".  The group signed to Warner Bros.  Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental concerns while playing large arenas worldwide. Adam Again is an American rock band that was active from 1982 until the 2000 death of founder, leader and vocalist Gene Eugene, with Riki Michele on vocals, Paul Valadez on bass, Jon Knox on drums, Greg Lawless on guitar.  Dan Michaels often played saxophone. Pietro Paolo Baldinacci (active first half of 16th century) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance, active in Gubbio. Girolamo Lancerotti (active first half of the 1600s) was an Italian painter, active mainly in the Veneto.  He was born at Verona,and is best known for an altarpiece of St Jerome in Santa Maria Consolatrice and frescoes in the chapel of St Sebastian de'Gesuiti in Venice.  He painted in the style of Paolo Veronese. The Master of San Verecondo (active first half of 15th century) was an anonymous painter active in the towns of Fabriano and Gualdo Tadino in the Marche. Santolo Cirillo (active first half of 18th century, died 1742) was an Italian painter, engraver, and stucco artist, active in Naples.  He was born in Grumo Nevano, a town near Naples.  He contributed frescoes and paintings for Santa Caterina a Formiello, the Cathedral of San Gennaro, the Basilica of Santa Restituta, and Santa Donna Regina Nuova in Naples.  He also painted for the Basilica di San Tamaro in his home town of Grumo Nevano. Supply Belcher (29 March 1751 – 9 June 1836) was an American composer, singer, and compiler of tune books.  He was one of the members of the so-called First New England School, a group of mostly self-taught composers who created sacred vocal music for local choirs.  He was active first in Lexington, Massachusetts, then eventually moved to Farmington, Maine.  Like most of his colleagues, Belcher could not make music his main occupation, and worked as tax assessor, schoolmaster, town clerk, and so on; nevertheless he was considerably well known for his musical activities, and even dubbed 'the Handell [sic] of Maine' by a local newspaper.  Most of his works survive in "The Harmony of Maine", a collection Belcher published himself in Boston in 1794. Bernardino del Signoraccio or Signoracci (active first three decades of 16th century) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active in Tuscany. Carl Dahlén (1770 – December 1, 1851) was a Swedish ballet dancer and choreographer, active first at the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, and second at the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Theatre in Denmark.  He belonged to the first male Swedish stars at the Royal Swedish ballet.
Answer: R.E.M.