NEWS
R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe has shared fresh details about his long awaited first solo album, revealing that the process has taken more time than he originally planned.
Since R.E.M. officially went their separate ways in 2011 on good terms, Stipe has only put out a small number of tracks under his own name. Among them is ‘I Played The Fool’, which he recorded with Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer and Travis Barker for the recently released series Rooster earlier this week.
Even so, he has quietly been developing his debut solo record for quite some time. Speaking recently with The Times, he offered fans a clearer picture of how the project is coming along.
“I’m working on a solo album,” he said. “But it’s taken longer than I wanted.”
Talking about what slowed things down, he explained: “Covid didn’t help, but I’m finishing it. When the band split, I just needed a break. I took five years but I got pulled back into music. It’s been a struggle. That’s the main thing. I want it to be great, but I’ve got the pressure of having been in R.E.M. and it’s a high bar, because I want this to be as good as that, and that’s near impossible.”
“So it’s fucking exciting but also terrifying, and I’m doing the music for the first time too, and I think I’m good at it but not great,” he added. “But I love my voice. I don’t like my speaking voice but I love my singing voice, and I so want to immerse myself back into offering music to the world.”
The conversation also confirmed that Stipe still has eight tracks left to complete before the album is finished. He mentioned that he is now working toward a target date and is aiming for a release sometime before the end of 2026. He also joked that the project could possibly carry the title ‘Meet THE Michael Stipe’.
Earlier solo material from Stipe includes the 2019 release ‘Your Capricious Soul’, followed by ‘Drive To The Ocean’ in 2020. That same year he also collaborated with Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine on the track ‘No Time For Love Like Now’.
Reports suggest that Stipe continues to have a positive relationship with his former R.E.M. bandmates Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry. The group reunited publicly in summer 2024 when they were honored with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
During that event, the four musicians surprised the audience with an acoustic performance of their 1991 hit ‘Losing My Religion’. It was the first occasion they had performed together since their appearance at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
Earlier this month, Stipe also made a guest appearance with Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy during one of their ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’ 40th anniversary shows in Brooklyn. Together they performed R.E.M. songs ‘These Days’ and ‘The Great Beyond’. The previous year he had also joined them for a performance of ‘Pretty Persuasion’.
Recently, Stipe has also been revisiting the lyrics of ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ on Bluesky, pointing out that listeners have misunderstood several of the words for many years.
Cardi B is feeling confident about the New York Knicks' chances in the 2026 NBA Finals. While attending Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, the rapper gave a funny answer when Entertainment Tonight asked what a Knicks championship would mean for New York City.
“It’s gonna mean the rats will disappear, trees will start growing, potholes will be filled,” she joked while speaking with the outlet. “Rains of glitter coming down, the Statue of Liberty is going to finally walk.”
“It’s going to mean everything,” she continued. “Crimes will be solved!”
Naturally, the Bronx star wrapped up her comments by saying, “Go Knicks!”
The New York squad ultimately fell 115 to 111 on Monday evening, though they still hold a 2 to 1 advantage in the series. Two more victories would secure the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973. The Knicks also have not reached the Finals since 1999. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Cardi has long been a devoted Knicks supporter and has been spotted courtside at several games over the years. During Game 3, she entertained fans with a halftime performance before taking in the action from courtside alongside her 4 year old son, Wave.
She has never been shy about celebrating her love for New York City. Earlier this year, Cardi joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani to help introduce a music competition tied to his 2 K program, which provides free childcare for New Yorkers. “Can you believe that?! We have a 34 year old mayor! I feel like I’m a kid, and you’re, like, running New York!” she said to the mayor in a video promoting the contest.
Watch Cardi share her optimistic thoughts about the New York Knicks below.
