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R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe Says Band ‘Will Never Reunite’

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Variety Editor at Large

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R.E.M. fans, Michael Stipe doesn’t have encouraging news when it comes to ever seeing the seminal rock band ever together again. In a new interview for New York public radio station WNYC, Stipe was clear about his take on the future — or lack thereof — for R.E.M.: “We will never reunite.”

WNYC’s “All of It with Alison Stewart” featured Stipe on its Sept. 21 episode , which happened to coincide with the 10th anniversary of R.E.M.’s breakup, on Sept. 21, 2011. Why not take the route so many bands of yore have chosen — from KISS to Pavement to Swedish House Mafia? Stipe told Stewart: “We decided when we split up that that would be really tacky and probably money grabbing, which might be the impetus for a lot of bands to get back together. We don’t really need that. And I’m really happy that we have the legacy of 32 years of work that we have from 1980 to 2011.”

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Last year was the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s formation, while 2021 is the 30th anniversary of their acclaimed album “Out of Time,” and next month will see new rerelease of 1996’s “New Adventures in Hi-Fi.”

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“Anniversaries mean a lot to me,” Stipe said. “It’s been ten years since R.E.M. called it a day, and that’s bittersweet of course for all of us. But I’m really proud as a band and as great friends that we decided to do what we did when we did it. It’s weird to me to think it’s been an entire decade since we called it a day.”

Stipe has been slowly releasing singles one at a time in recent years, including one with Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine , and he tells Stewart that he is eventually leading up to a new album. Although, “I don’t know what an album is in the year 2021 or 2022 is anymore,” he says. “But I’m actually in the studio now. I’m working on new material. I don’t feel the need at this point to really compete with the pop market. I just want to do what I do. So I’m not going to wait and drop everything at one time. I’m just going to release things as I record them and mix them.”

The musician said he’s donating the first year profit of all his singles to various charitable organizations.

Stipe, who was speaking from his home base in Athens, Ga., also has a third collection of photography that he has recently released, titled “Michael Stipe.” “Photography was my first love as a teenager,” he said. “I really have used photography throughout my life as a diary.”

Stipe was on the radio show to discuss the new tribute album “I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico,” in which he covers “Sunday Morning,” which opens the album. Released September 24, the compilation also includes Iggy Pop, Sharon Van Etten, Matt Berninger and St. Vincent, among others.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” was produced by the late Hal Willner , the “Saturday Night Live” sketch music producer since 1980. (Last year “SNL” played tribute to Willner, who died in April 2020 due to COVID-19 complications, by showing current and past cast members singing to Lou Reed’s song “Perfect Day.” ) Stipe said Willner was instrumental in convincing him to participate in the album.

Added Stipe: “To me it’s really a tribute to Hal Willner, and his genius, and honoring the impact that he had in my life and a lot of other people’s lives.”

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R.E.M. Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Chronic Town (press release)

LOS ANGELES – JUNE 28, 2022 — Celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year, R.E.M. ’s debut EP CHRONIC TOWN will be released for the first time ever as a standalone CD with extensive liner notes by the original producer Mitch Easter ( Let’s Active ).  It will be released in three different formats: CD, Picture Disc, and Cassette on August 19, 2022 via I.R.S./UMe and can be preordered here .

Featuring such adored classics in the band’s repertoire as “ Gardening At Night ”, “ Wolves, Lower ” and “ 1,000,000 ,” the five song EP, as Rolling Stone noted, “served notice that R.E.M. was an outfit to watch.” As a debut release, R.E.M.’s Chronic Town was an anomaly… a record that didn’t quite fit into the constraints of what was played on the radio.  So instead of trying to fit into a genre, R.E.M. helped create their own: College Rock. The follow-up to their breakthrough single “Radio Free Europe” which was released in 1981, Chronic Town served as the entry point to what would become one of Alternative Rock’s biggest bands.  “One might fancifully say that Chronic Town was the sound of an expedition, ready for anything, setting forth,” says Easter fondly about the EP.  “If R.E.M.’s ‘Radio Free Europe’ single was a signpost, the Chronic Town EP was the atlas.”

Introducing their arpeggiated guitar playing, cryptic and often indecipherable lyrics, and radiant choruses that would soon emerge as signatures of the classic R.E.M. sound, Chronic Town is the sound of a restless band, chock full of ideas, operating on a post-collegiate budget. Charmingly ragged and refreshingly immediate, it established the band indelibly upon impact. “Wolves, Lower” opens the EP with Michael Stipe’s trademark impressionistic and idiosyncratic lyrics, while Mike Mills’ rubbery bass lines and Peter Buck’s jangly Rickenbacker keeps Bill Berry’s unpredictable drumming in check. It’s this combination that would not only fuel the band for subsequent decades but make them equally as dependable as songsmiths. Serving as a template for ‘80s college jangle pop, “Gardening At Night” forged a style that combined heartily strummed rhythm guitars with a meandering bass line that proved to be a solid blueprint for college bands to come.

Critically hailed both upon release and in retrospect, Chronic Town heralded “a great band planting their flag in the ground, an historic landmark that portended great things that actually came” ( Stereogum ). The Stranger praised “everything about the EP, from its gnomic, blue-tinted cover art, to its restlessly discursive music, to the fact that the two sides both had their own titles (‘Chronic Town’ and ‘Poster Torn’), was not only good on its own merits, but an excellent influence in favor of obscurantism and understatement.” Chronic Town ’s impact and influence on the future of alternative music is uncontested and described by Magnet Magazine as “essentially a template for the entire indie-rock movement.”

R.E.M. – CHRONIC TOWN

• Wolves, Lower
• Gardening At Night
• Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars)

For more information, please contact:

Rey Roldan, Reybee Inc. [email protected]

Sujata Murthy, Ume, [email protected]

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Michael Stipe

Upcoming michael stipe festivals appearances, upcoming michael stipe concerts near me.

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NEW: Michael Stipe Volume 3 now out on Damiani

Out now: "no time for love like now" by michael stipe & big red machine, "drive to the ocean" is now on streaming services, drive to the ocean.

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OUT NOW: Michael Stipe Releases Second Solo Single “Drive To The Ocean” On Jan 4th

Download purchase benefits pathway to paris.

Michael Stipe is starting the new decade by releasing his second solo single, “Drive To The Ocean” on January 4th, 2020. The date also marks Stipe’s 60th birthday and the track will be made available exclusively via his own website - MichaelStipe.com.

The track will benefit Pathway to Paris , founded by Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon, with Stipe redirecting all of his earnings from sales and synchronization licensing for the first 365 days to the organization.

Pathway to Paris is a non-profit organization dedicated to turning the Paris Agreement into reality through innovative public engagement, cultural events, supporting citizen driven initiatives and cities in developing and implementing ambitious climate action plans.

Pathway to Paris was founded in 2014 as a platform to bring together artists, musicians, filmmakers, poets with politicians, scientists, activists, innovators, and leading thinkers in order to strengthen the climate movement through diverse collaborations. The organization has held major events all over the world, and has partnered with several other groups including the UNDP and 350.org. In 2017, Pathway to Paris launched their 1000 Cities Initiative for Carbon Freedom, based on the idea that if 1000 cities around the world commit to transitioning away from fossil fuels, to 100% renewable energy and zero emissions by 2040, then we can meet and go beyond the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Says Stipe of this, his second solo release, "I am so happy to collaborate with Pathway To Paris for this year 2020. The work that they are doing is vital and foundational— it is essential for a future that we can and will claim as our own.”

The download is priced at 77 cents but those who prefer to give more can enter an amount of their own choosing. The download package will include exclusive wallpapers, the video, a lyric video, a high resolution audio version of the song as well as Stipe's original lyric document.

“Drive To The Ocean” will be accompanied by a video directed by Stipe.

Stipe’s debut solo single “ Your Capricious Soul ” was released on October 5th, with proceeds going to climate justice activists Extinction Rebellion.

Stipe has made a teaser video loop and the title loop available for social sharing, with tag #drivetotheocean

For more information: Chloë Walsh @ The Oriel Co.: [email protected]

Pathway to Paris

PATHWAY TO PARIS is a non-profit organization dedicated to turning the Paris Agreement into reality through innovative public engagement, cultural events, supporting citizen driven initiatives and cities in developing and implementing ambitious climate action plans.

Michael Stipe has a long history with Pathway to Paris, performing at four events, including their first in 2014 and most recently in April, 2019 during Earthfest at the Natural History Museum in New York. "Drive to the Ocean" made its debut at the April event.

“From a very young age I attached our enlightened and active progress as humans to an ability to fix our own problems. Our most noble goal is to encourage and secure sustainable energy sources; and to support–rather than lessen– Gaia, our home that we share with so many different species, life energies, and life forces. My attraction to Pathway is in seeing a younger generation approach these concerns with renewed vigor and interest, in turn inspiring each of us to deepen our commitment and resolve towards a better future for all.” – Michael Stipe

Pathway to Paris is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization Registered in the United States.

www.pathwaytoparis.com

Video by michael stipe

Visit the "Your Capricious Soul" single website.

Press Inquiries: Chloë Walsh @ The Oriel Co.: [email protected]

Support: E-Mail

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Original R.E.M. Lineup Appears Onstage Together for the First Time in 17 Years

R.E.M. fans were in for a surprise as singer Michael Stipe, bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Peter Buck and drummer Bill Berry all appeared onstage together Thursday night (Feb. 8) for the first time since their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2007, though they did not perform.

What brought them all together? The band members were attending a concert featuring actor Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy, who have been touring while playing R.E.M.'s Murmur album on a nightly basis.

While the full four R.E.M. members chose not to play together, their presence onstage at the end of the show served as a stamp of approval for Shannon and Narducy's touring tribute.

"Speaking on behalf of Bill and Mike and Peter, we are so fucking thrilled to be here tonight," said singer Michael Stipe to the audience in footage from Scene SC that can be seen below.

The Thursday performance took place at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, where R.E.M. got their start as a band. That made the homecoming all the sweeter for fans in attendance.

Per fan accounts, it appears as though Berry, Mills and Buck joined Shannon and Narducy at different times during the band's set, but Stipe did not perform, only joining his bandmates with Shannon and Narducy's band onstage at the end of the evening.

This was not the first time that an R.E.M. member has shown up during the tour, with Mike Mills previously joining Shannon and Narducy during a Chicago show last year.

The current Shannon / Narducy tour  celebrating Murmur continues through Feb. 14 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York.

READ MORE: Michael Stipe Gives Update on Solo Album

R.E.M. Original Lineup History

R.E.M. originally formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia. The core four of the lineup remained intact through 1997, when drummer Bill Berry left the band. The drummer had previously suffered a brain aneurysm while onstage in Switzerland in March 1995.

The band continued as a trio, utilizing touring and session musicians in Berry's absence for the remainder of their career.

On Sept. 21, 2011, the band announced that they were "calling it a day as a band."

The original four members recorded 10 albums together, with 1996's New Adventures in Hi-Fi being Berry's last record with the band. After Berry's exit, the group recorded five more albums.

As previously stated, Berry joined his bandmates in 2007 onstage for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since that time, it's been rare that all four members have been seen together in public. They all did appear at the 40 Watt Club in 2022 for an all-star tribute to the band's Chronic Town EP, but during the show only Buck and Mills were seen onstage.

Upon announcing their retirement, R.E.M. have been one of the few acts that actually held true to the declaration. They have not returned to the stage as a four-piece (with then drummer Bill Rieflen) to perform since a 2009 appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall . The trio of Stipe, Mills and Buck did play an impromptu performance of "Losing My Religion" in France in 2016 to celebrate the birthday of their manager Bertis Downs.

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Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire

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Michael Stipe offers update on his debut solo album: “I have a deadline now”

The former R.E.M. frontman has provided the first update in over a year

Michael Stipe has revealed that he is still working on his debut album, despite a number of delays in his creative process over the past 12 months. 

• READ MORE: NME meets R.E.M.: “We needed swagger – to be loud and raw”  

In a new interview with New York Times , the former R.E.M. frontman reassured fans that his previously announced solo album is still in the works, but that personal circumstances including family emergencies, house moves and a bout of Covid have slowed the process. 

He also described the effect of his “terrible” writer’s block, but added that after meeting with his mother, he now feels pressure to deliver. “I have a deadline now,” he said. “I could keep working on this record for a decade and let my insecurities get the better of me.” 

“We can say for the piece that I finished the songs,” he told the newspaper. “And by God, I will finish them before the piece comes out. How about that? Let’s leave the piece closing with: I finished the songs.” 

Last December, Stipe confirmed that he was working on his debut album , saying at the time that “it should come together next year”. 

“I’m working on a solo album, my first. I’m collaborating with a bunch of different musicians and each of those songs, if I get my way, which I think I will because I’m paying for it, will be very different,” he said. 

Recommended

“I have no management. I have no label. For the first time in my adult life, I don’t have a contract with anyone except myself. So I get to do whatever I want. Anyway, there will be a visual representation for each of the songs, and it should come together next year. I’m hoping to build slowly.” 

Also revealed in the new interview is the detail that Stipe shared studio space with Taylor Swift , Jack Antonoff and Matty Healy during his recording process. The musicians were all working at Electric Lady in New York at the same time, with Stipe working on a song titled ‘I’m the Charge’. 

Since the demise of R.E.M., Stipe has released a number of solo singles, including ‘ Your Capricious Soul ’ in 2019 and ‘ Drive to the Ocean ’ in 2020. He also co-produced the 2018 album ‘Sir’ by electroclash duo Fischerspooner . 

In July, Stipe re-shared his cover of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘The Last Day of Our Acquaintance’ following the singer’s death. He had recorded his version of the song in 1996. 

Stipe was one of dozens of high-profile figures from the entertainment world to sign an open letter urging President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The letter sought “an end to the bombing of Gaza and the safe release of hostages,” and was also signed by Dua Lipa and Cate Blanchett.  

Stipe also officiated the wedding between his goddaughter Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk in San Diego in October.

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R.E.M. 's still got it.

The group — comprised of frontman Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bass player Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry — had a surprise onstage reunion at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in New York on Thursday, performing their 1991 hit "Losing My Religion."

The performance marked the first time all four members of the indie band took the stage together since their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

R.E.M. slowly dissolved after Berry left the band in 1997 after suffering a double brain aneurysm. The band continued on as a trio until 2011, but never quite found their groove without their drummer.

In their speech, Stipe spoke about their latest accolade on behalf of his bandmates.

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"Writing songs and having a catalogue of work that we’re all proud of that is out there for the rest of the world for all time is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did," he said. "Second to that is that we managed to do so all those decades and remain friends. And not just friends, dear friends."

The frontman also noted that even amid the band's difficulties, they were united.

"We are four people that very early on decided that we would own our own masters and we would split our royalties and songwriting credits equally," he said. "All for one and one for all."

Songwriters Hall of Fame to induct Steely Dan, R.E.M., Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey

The "Everybody Hurts" band's reunion comes the same day their " CBS Mornings " interview aired where they discussed their breakup and joked it would take a "comet" to get them together onstage again.

"At that point, there wasn’t anything we could agree on really, musically — what kind of music, how to record it, are we gonna go on tour," Buck said of when Berry left R.E.M. "We could barely agree on where to go to dinner. And now we can just agree on where to go to dinner."

He added: "I think we quit at the right time. This is a really good place to finish, you know – great tour, great album, go home."

When asked if they would ever consider a reunion, Buck said, "It'd never be as good."

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M72 World Tour

We told you about our new album 72 Seasons , so what’s next now that we’ve escaped the studio? Hit the road, of course! You want a tour, we’ve got a tour... how about two full years worth of shows?!?!

Over the past few years, we have been so inspired by the dedication and family/community vibe of the fans who traveled to San Francisco for our recent weekend celebrations, first in 2019 with the two S&M2 shows, followed by last year’s 40th Anniversary shows. On top of that, we had a blast being a part of the 2021 Wimmer Festivals when we played two nights in one city, each with a totally different setlist. With all of that in mind, the M72 tour was born!

Starting in April of 2023, we’ll be visiting 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each “No Repeat Weekend” show a completely unique experience: Two totally different set lists with two different bands opening the show each night! Purchase a two-day ticket, and you won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning our 40+ years of being lucky enough to make music. Most of the shows (sorry, not all - we tried!) will be on Fridays and Sundays, so we’ll be sure to have lots of extracurricular events for you to hang with fellow Metallica fans at before the shows kick-off and on the Saturday night in between.

Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only), and brought to you by our friends at Live Nation, the M72 tour also launches a completely different look for us in stadiums – we’ll be in the round in the middle of the field. On top of that, the Snake Pit has been relocated to the center of the stage so that fans there will have a complete 360 view of the show. Each weekend offers a variety of Enhanced Experiences , ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit. The very popular “Black Laminate” is back, now known as the “I Disappear Ticket,” and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with us for multiple weekends. Grab one of these and attend every show on your continent or in the world! For more information about Enhanced Experiences and I Disappear Tickets, visit wearesuper.co/metallica .

In keeping with the theme of two completely unique shows each weekend, we’re excited to share the stage with different bands each night, including some we have traveled with before and new friends who are joining us for the first time. Signing up for the entire adventure with us are Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills, and MammothWVH, and some of you will see Pantera, Architects, Greta Van Fleet, or Volbeat, depending on the shows you attend. All the details are in the listing of dates below and on the individual show pages.

Two-day discounted tickets will be on sale Friday, December 2, for all shows. Fan Club presales start early on Wednesday, November 30, with various other presales beginning later that day and throughout the week. To request your Fan Club presale code, visit metallica.com/presale-code . If you cannot join us for the entire weekend, single-day tickets will be available starting January 20, 2023.

A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Founded in 2017, AWMH’s efforts to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band have raised nearly $13 million – providing $5.9 million in grants to career and technical education programs in the US, over $2.5 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.2 million to disaster relief efforts worldwide.

We cannot wait to embark on this new adventure, play some new music, and spend our weekends in ’23 and ’24 with YOU!

Show 1 Support Europe: Architects & Mammoth WVH ** Show 2 Support Europe: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills * Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills play Show 1 in Paris, Architects & Mammoth WVH play Show 2 in Paris ** Volbeat replaces Architects on Show 1 in Gothenburg

Show 1 Support North America: Pantera & Mammoth WVH *** Show 2 Support North America: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills *** Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on show 1 both weekends in Mexico City

Got a question about the M72 World Tour? Look for the answer in our FAQ.

Citi is the official card of the M72 Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning Wednesday, November 30 at 2:00 pm local time until Thursday, December 1 at 10:00 pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit citientertainment.com .