R.E.M. discusses surprise reunion at Songwriters Hall of Fame, reveals why there won't be another

Legendary alternative rock band R.E.M. marked their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night by giving nostalgic fans something they've been dreaming about for roughly 17 years: a reunion.

Fans have waited years to see the band onstage again, and Thursday night they got it – one surprise song, one time only, when R.E.M performed an acoustic version of their Grammy award-winning hit,  "Losing My Religion."

The intimate and soulful performance was the first time that frontman Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry played together publicly since 2007 when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.