The owner of a restaurant that inspired the name of rock band R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" album says he might be forced to close unless business picks up.

Dexter Weaver said a utility employee showed up Friday to cut off the gas to Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods. Weaver says he paid what he could and his Athens restaurant remains open.

Weaver has been running the neon green soul food restaurant for more than 25 years.

R.E.M., which began its rise to worldwide notoriety in Athens, adopted Weaver's "Automatic for the People" motto for its 1992 album.

The restaurant still features R.E.M. pictures on its walls and draws fans of the band from around the globe.

Tags: Athens, restaurant, R.E.M., Weaver D's, Automatic for the People