Michael Stipe

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5 Feb 2024

Michael Stipe

John Michael Stipe, born on January 4, 1960, is a prominent American singer, songwriter, and artist, renowned as the frontman and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.
Stipe possesses a distinctive vocal style that has evolved over his career. Initially noted for his "mumbling" delivery, his singing style transitioned in the mid-1980s to include "wailing, keening, arching vocal figures," reminiscent of Celtic folk singers and Muslim muezzin, as described by R.E.M. biographer David Buckley. In addition to his vocal talents, Stipe took an active role in shaping R.E.M.'s visual identity, often curating album artwork and directing many of the band's music videos. Beyond music, Stipe is also involved in the film industry, owning and managing two film production studios, C-00 and Single Cell Pictures.

In recognition of his contributions to music, Stipe was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of R.E.M. in 2007. His influence extends beyond his own band, with artists like Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Thom Yorke of Radiohead citing him as an inspiration. Bono of U2 has praised Stipe's vocal abilities as "extraordinary," while Yorke has hailed him as his favorite lyricist, admiring Stipe's ability to infuse emotions with depth and power through his lyrics.

John Michael Stipe was born on January 4, 1960, in Decatur, Georgia, to Marianne and John Stipe. Coming from a military family, Stipe experienced frequent relocations due to his father's service in the United States Army. His younger sister, Lynda Stipe, born in 1962, later became the vocalist of Hetch Hetchy. Throughout his childhood, Stipe and his family moved to various places, including West Germany, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama, due to his father's postings.

In 1978, Stipe graduated from high school in Collinsville, Illinois, where his senior photo was included in the album artwork of R.E.M.'s compilation album "Eponymous." During his high school years, Stipe also worked at the local Waffle House. His family had a background in Methodist ministry, with previous generations of his family serving as Methodist ministers.

At the age of 14, Stipe discovered punk rock through an article in Creem magazine by Lisa Robinson covering the CBGB scene. The article featured a photo of Patti Smith, who became a major influence on Stipe. He vividly recalls purchasing Smith's debut album, "Horses," on the day of its release, which marked a significant turning point in his musical tastes. From then on, he was drawn to the energy and ethos of punk rock, shaping his musical interests and ultimately influencing his own artistic endeavors.

While attending the University of Georgia in Athens, John Michael Stipe frequented the Wuxtry record shop, where he met store clerk Peter Buck in 1980. Buck recalled being drawn to Stipe's striking appearance and shared interest in eclectic music. They struck up a friendship and began writing music together, despite Stipe's involvement in another local group called Gangster at the time. Eventually, Stipe, Buck, along with Bill Berry and Mike Mills, formed the band R.E.M., with Stipe being the youngest member and the vocalist.

All four members of R.E.M. made the decision to drop out of school in 1980 to focus entirely on the band, with Stipe being the last to do so. The band released its debut single, "Radio Free Europe," on Hib-Tone, which gained significant traction on college radio. Subsequently, R.E.M. signed with I.R.S. Records and released the Chronic Town EP in 1982, followed by their acclaimed debut album, "Murmur," in 1983. Stipe's distinctive vocals and enigmatic lyrics garnered attention and critical acclaim, earning "Murmur" the Rolling Stone Critics Poll Album of the Year award.

The band's success continued with the release of their second album, "Reckoning," in 1984. However, tensions within the band arose during the recording of their third album, "Fables of the Reconstruction," in England in 1985, pushing them to the brink of a breakup. Stipe, in particular, struggled with depression and exhaustion during this period, which affected his behavior and appearance.

R.E.M. persevered through these challenges, touring extensively in Canada and Europe, with Stipe notably sporting bleached blond hair at the time. The band experienced further changes with Bill Berry's departure in 1997, continuing as a three-piece until their amicable disbandment in 2011. Stipe confirmed in 2021 that there were no plans for a reunion, marking the end of R.E.M.'s storied career.

In 2008, John Michael Stipe collaborated with Lacoste to release his own "holiday collector edition" brand of polo shirt, featuring a design depicting a concert audience from the perspective of the performer on stage.
He appeared alongside Chris Martin of Coldplay live at Madison Square Garden and online to perform "Losing My Religion" during the 12-12-12 concert, which aimed to raise funds for relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy.

In 2013, a new recording featuring Stipe and Courtney Love was unveiled. The song, titled "Rio Grande," is part of Johnny Depp's pirate-themed album, "Son of Rogue's Gallery." Additionally, Stipe composed the soundtrack for "The Cold Lands" (2013), a film directed by his friend Tom Gilroy.
Stipe had the honor of inducting the American grunge band Nirvana into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014. He debuted his first solo composition at Moogfest in 2017 and later performed with Fischerspooner on their song "Have Fun Tonight" from the album "Sir" (2018).

As a solo artist, Stipe released several singles, including "Future, If Future" (2018), "Your Capricious Soul" (2019), and "Drive to the Ocean" (2020) to mark his 60th birthday.
Photography has been a longstanding passion for Stipe, who has been capturing moments since his teenage years. In 2018, he released a book of his photography titled "Volume 1," featuring 35 photographs of celebrities like River Phoenix and Kurt Cobain. A second volume, "Our Interference Times: A Visual Record," created with Douglas Coupland, followed in 2019.
In 2019, Stipe collaborated with Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon's band Big Red Machine on the single "No Time For Love Like Now," which was completed and released in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, in 2023, Stipe began recording his debut solo album at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, crafting "synth-infused, poppy" songs alongside his longtime collaborator Andy LeMaster.