Performing as a guest on the program with Joseph Arthur - along with R.E.M. bandmate Peter Buck - Mills tweeted the news at 4:03 pm ET during The Late Show's taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York. "Dave just announced his retirement #2015 #muchlovedave" posted Mills.

Letterman told the studio audience that he informed CBS CEO Les Moonves Thursday of his decision to retire in 2015 after 22 years as host of The Late Show (and 11 with NBC's Late Night), which prompted the bassist to hop on Twitter to spread the word.