Portrait

Born: 4 January 1960Decatur, Georgia, USA

Singer and artistUnited States

Michael Stipe

Michael Stipe brought an elusive voice to R.E.M. and spoke about sexuality in terms that resisted a simple public label.

Michael Stipe was born in Decatur, Georgia, in 1960. He grew up moving between places with his military family before studying art in Athens, Georgia.

In 1980, he formed R.E.M. with Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry. The band developed from the independent music scene into an internationally successful group. Stipe’s distinctive delivery and suggestive lyrics left room for uncertainty, while albums including “Out of Time” and “Automatic for the People” reached a much wider audience.

Stipe discussed relationships with men and women and later described himself as queer. He resisted assumptions that he should explain every part of his life or accept the categories imposed by interviewers. His public work also included support for HIV/AIDS organisations and other political causes.

After R.E.M. ended in 2011, he continued working in photography, visual art and music. Those activities extended interests present throughout his career. His visibility helped broaden the range of lives that could be represented by the frontman of a major rock band.

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