INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Michael Stipe On When He’ll Return To Music And Who He’s Backing For President

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 05:08 PST, Apr 7, 2016

Michael Stipe, former frontman for alternative rock band R.E.M., appeared in a solo performance of a David Bowie classic song in the March 29 episode of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, according to Rolling Stone.

Ever since leaving the band, Michael Stipe has only given a handful of performances here and there. He most notably opened for Patti Smith in a series of concerts starting back in December, 2014. Michael Stipe then performed R.E.M. classics such as “New Test Leper” and “Saturn Return.” Stipe also made another appearance at the 12-12-12 concert, along with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

But back in 2014, Michael Stipe made it clear that he planned to return to performing again one day. The “Everybody Hurts” singer spoke on his plans to return to singing and music, saying that he thinks his voice has improved with age.

“I think I’ll sing again. That’s maybe an exclusive? But I think I will sing again, yeah. I love my voice and I think it’s still… I think it actually got better as I got older.”

When asked when he planned to return, his answer was less exciting for his fans.

“Not soon. Maybe. I don’t know.”

It seems that for the time being, Michael Stipe will confine his singing talents to the privacy of his own bathroom, though fans would probably love to know what kind of songs he belts out while showering.

“I sing in the shower. And I’m not bad. You would be surprised at my play list [sic].”

More recently, Michael Stipe told Rolling Stone who he hopes will be the new President of the United States. His answer was none other than Bernie Sanders. According to RTT News, Stipe is public about his support for Bernie Sanders.

Michael Stipe spoke on why he supports Bernie Sanders, saying that his views align with Sanders’.

“He’s the senator who has consistently voted the way I would if I were a politician, and who has stood firm in his position and belief.”

The former R.E.M. frontman went on to say that he judges politicians by the same standards that he judges artists and musicians: “honesty and realness.”

“In politics, [Sanders] is the person who is offering me the most honesty and the most realness.”

Michael Stipe then went on to talk about how he and Bernie Sanders have similar beliefs, especially in relation to feminism, black rights, privacy rights, rights of people who identify as LGBTQ, and the environment. Calling himself a feminist, the “Losing My Religion” singer says that he “gets” that there are people who don’t share the same views and beliefs as he does and that he has reached the point where he can see when “a politician is waffling or dodging hard questions, or trying to alter or rewrite the positions they have taken,” but that Sanders doesn’t do that.

“Sanders is refreshingly not that. It’s refreshing to have a candidate who speaks his mind, who makes sense, who isn’t demagogic.”

In other Michael Stipe news, fans who have followed his career over the years may have noticed that his appearance has changed drastically in recent years. According to Entertainment, Michael Stipe has been spotted with a bushy beard and a nose piercing.

Michael Stipe also seems to be a regular visitor to Dublin because he’s apparently made friends with the locals. Stipe has been seen around town with U2’s very own David Howell Evans, a.k.a “The Edge.” He was also in Trinity College and even took a selfie with U2s creative consultant/stylist, Sharon Blankson.

[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]

Share this article: Michael Stipe On When He’ll Return To Music And Who He’s Backing For President
chris martin bernie sanders
More from Inquisitr