I read about a unique memory that you have of your childhood, one when you were four years old. You decided you wanted to become the filamentand the only way you thought you could do that was to bite into the light bulb. Your father and uncle found you trying to eat the bulb and ultimately tried to pull the pieces out of your mouth and then try to put the light bulb back together with glue. I distinctly remember then being horrified at my attempt to becoming the filament. As an adult, what's interesting is that i really meant it. But if some one can exaggerate my second memory in life, i would hope tha it would be william burroughs.
Michael Stipe joins to talk about his remarkable life, photography practice, and career as the lead singer and lyricist for the band R.E.M.