I love REM tremendously! Though, this interview may have been done a few years ago. Mike Stipe is such a deeply insightful, personally touching, powerfully passionate, and even kind of shy-type person, and with a voice that was always unique. I can see him getting more into indie-film-making from now on. There's a secrecy about him that is both endearing and somberly mysterious. He's just a cool guy. He also reminds me of my oldest brother too :) I would also definitely buy a book from him!
Looks like I'm the first to comment. Great interview with Michael, one of my idols. Great man comfortable in his talent. Great, keep it coming Mr. Stipe !
Completely agree! He's comfortable in his own talent as well as his own skin. He truly is unique and I can't find one artist to compare him to. Bono once compared him to Bing Crosby. Michael is an extreme intellectual with a bigger heart than he displays publicly. Love your comment, by the way and I also agree that Mr Stipe's work is timeless.
'Alligator' reminds me of River Phoenix. At the beginning of James Franco movie of 'My Own Private River' you see out takes of River kind of dancing and singing and acting goofy with his co stars and friends.
Great interview, very fascinating and watchable, however... Under such an auspicious setting, with an introduction from a podium and all, one would expect a more polished presentation. The introduction sounded a bit unpracticed, and the interviewer was stuttering and saying "um" a lot. Not the standard one expects from the Times.
The lady doing the introduction was so extremely boring I was thankful to learn she wasn't going to interview Michael. She could barely read her intro.
While I do like Michael Stipe I do find forums like this where Artists discuss their work to be Boringly dull and too worthy for its own consumpion. LIghten up this act of genuflecting before the Artist and while Michael is seemingly enthralled(not) by the event, the interviewer would seem less so.
Why not get past that,and just take in what he says. on some level,it's awkward for both of them;and,It's next to impossible,to not come across as self referential to some degree,when you are that famous.
He's an artist, not a professional speaker. We can't all be good at everything, though Michael is good at most things -- as this interview brings to light.
I feel a lot attraction for him as man but I think he is gay. :(. I love his expression, his smile, his eyes, his character, his voice, his delicate and soft personality with his male face...