Weaver D's Historic Preservation
Donation protected
Weaver D's Historic Preservation Campaign 2015
Help save this Historic Propery by adding your gift to our GoFundMe effort.
If you are interested in helping with the research of the property send an email to the Campaign Manger. Weaver D's has the information.
The Story of Weaver D's and R.E.M. - The connection:
In ’92 [the rock band] R.E.M. approached me. They came to the restaurant and wanted to title their next album "Automatic for the People"--I was shocked that anyone would want to use my slogan.” When they came I really didn’t know who they were; and I thought they might have just been salesmen, coming by to sell me something.
After they told me who they were and what they wanted that made day. Anyone who has ever been to Weaver D's know my slogan or tag line - "Automatic for the People." So for them to ask if they could use it as the title of their next album was a great honor. I agreed and we formalized the agreement and the rest is history. R.E.M.'s album titled "Automatic for the People" was their biggest selling album and nominated for a Grammy Award; and in 1994 I was invited and went to the awards ceremony; that was a fantastic adventure.
Rolling Stone Magazine wrote an article about R.E.M. and made mention, within the article, that the group had gotten the name from a soul food restaurant in Athens, GA.
After the magazine hit the newstands people from around the world came to my restaurant to take pictures, enjoy the food and it was a wonderful time in my life. There were so many people interesting in visiting the restaurant that tour buses full of people stopped by to have lunch. The Post Office brought duffle bags full of mail -- letters came from all over the world.
That was the beginning of so many positive things for me and everyone who worked, supported, and visited the restaurant.
With the popularity and success of R.E.M.'s album "Automatic for the People" I was told that for a brief period of time Warner Brothers started answering the phone, “Automatic,” Their success greatly increased our business so much that I hired a publicist and obtained a 1-800 number to handle all the enquiries.
Help save this Historic Propery by adding your gift to our GoFundMe effort.
If you are interested in helping with the research of the property send an email to the Campaign Manger. Weaver D's has the information.
The Story of Weaver D's and R.E.M. - The connection:
In ’92 [the rock band] R.E.M. approached me. They came to the restaurant and wanted to title their next album "Automatic for the People"--I was shocked that anyone would want to use my slogan.” When they came I really didn’t know who they were; and I thought they might have just been salesmen, coming by to sell me something.
After they told me who they were and what they wanted that made day. Anyone who has ever been to Weaver D's know my slogan or tag line - "Automatic for the People." So for them to ask if they could use it as the title of their next album was a great honor. I agreed and we formalized the agreement and the rest is history. R.E.M.'s album titled "Automatic for the People" was their biggest selling album and nominated for a Grammy Award; and in 1994 I was invited and went to the awards ceremony; that was a fantastic adventure.
Rolling Stone Magazine wrote an article about R.E.M. and made mention, within the article, that the group had gotten the name from a soul food restaurant in Athens, GA.
After the magazine hit the newstands people from around the world came to my restaurant to take pictures, enjoy the food and it was a wonderful time in my life. There were so many people interesting in visiting the restaurant that tour buses full of people stopped by to have lunch. The Post Office brought duffle bags full of mail -- letters came from all over the world.
That was the beginning of so many positive things for me and everyone who worked, supported, and visited the restaurant.
With the popularity and success of R.E.M.'s album "Automatic for the People" I was told that for a brief period of time Warner Brothers started answering the phone, “Automatic,” Their success greatly increased our business so much that I hired a publicist and obtained a 1-800 number to handle all the enquiries.
Organizer
Dexter Weaver
Organizer
Athens, GA
