R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe gives update on debut solo album: “It’s taken longer than I wanted” The singer has only released a handful of songs under his own name since his former band split amicably in 2011, including ‘I Played The Fool’ with Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer and Travis Barker earlier this week for the new show Rooster.
He has said he hopes the record will be released before the end of 2026, He has, been working on his first solo album for several years and in a new interview with The Times, he has given fans some significant updates on the record’s progress. 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.”
The interview also revealed that Stipe has still got eight songs to finish before the record is complete, but he is working to a deadline and he hopes that it will be released before the end of 2026.
The GRAMMY-winning artist, singer/songwriter and R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe collaborates with Louis Cato and The Great Big Joy Machine on a brand new, unreleased track from his upcoming debut solo album.
Keep up with all of Michael Stipe’s projects, including his four recent photography books, at https://www.michaelstipe.com.
The Fat Angel Sings 