Michael Stipe made a memorable appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, sporting a distinctive beard and offering fans a glimpse into his creative future. During the broadcast, the legendary musician sat down for a candid interview before debuting his new, unreleased track, “The Rest Of Ever.”
Stipe, who performed alongside the Late Show‘s house band, Louis Cato and The Great Big Joy Machine, confirmed that his highly anticipated first solo album is slated for release later this year. The conversation took a whimsical turn when Stephen Colbert joked about Stipe’s sea-captain aesthetic, prompting the singer to reveal that his forthcoming record draws inspiration from traditional sea shanties.
“One of the songs is a sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time through a MIDI,” Stipe explained, leaving the host momentarily stunned. The artist elaborated on his fascination with biological frequencies, noting that he had recorded a tree in his Georgia backyard and played the audio back to it. “It sounds like Daft Punk,” he remarked. Stipe also shared a humorous anecdote about mishearing the lyrics to the classic shanty “Drunken Sailor,” resulting in his own surreal lyrical interpretation: “Duct tape donkey ears, jelly wellies, early in the morning.”
The conversation also touched on the enduring legacy of R.E.M., particularly their 2024 reunion at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction. Stipe emphasized that despite the band’s dissolution in 2011, the members remain close friends. “They’re friends for life and my best friends. I’m really honored to have that,” he said.
The pair also engaged in a lighthearted discussion regarding a potential R.E.M. biopic. When asked who might play a younger version of himself, Stipe offered a surprising suggestion: Billie Eilish. He recalled a brief encounter where the pop star held a door open for him, leaving a lasting impression.
Check out the interview and his performance of “The Rest Of Ever” below.
