Michael Stipe

Today we have a conversation between old friends Rick Rubin and Michael Stipe. Along with his former band R.E.M., Stipe's expert, open-hearted lyrics gave voice to the sensitive and misunderstood among us with hits like “The One I Love,” “Everybody Hurts,” and “Losing My Religion.” After R.E.M. broke up a little over a decade ago, Stipe followed other creative pursuits like photography. But now Stipe has found his way back to music and is working on his first ever solo album. On today’s episode, Michael plays Rick his new song, “Future If Future” produced by Andy LeMaster. Michael Stipe also talks about why he decided to record a solo album, and how he always intended to be super famous—and what it was like when that actually happened. Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @BrokenRecord. You can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com. Hear a playlist of all of our favorite R.E.M. and Michael Stipe songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a captivating chat, Michael Stipe, the legendary lead singer of R.E.M., dives into his artistic journey spanning music, visual art, and film. He humorously reflects on his youthful confidence and the seismic shifts of relocation. The conversation reveals the intertwined essence of nostalgia and creativity as Stipe discusses his approach to art and storytelling. He also shares heartfelt anecdotes about songwriting and the emotional depth of contemporary music, along with light-hearted moments that showcase his playful side.

R.E.M. was formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Peter Buck, and drummer Bill Berry. They’ve won three Grammys, and have sold over 85 million records. In 1992, the band released their eighth album, Automatic for the People. In honor of the 25th anniversary of its release, in this episode, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills take apart the song, “Try Not to Breathe.” songexploder.net/rem