Michael Stipe was seen sporting a full beard as he arrived at the Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan for a photoshoot and interview. The REM frontman, 51, appeared flustered and blamed 'heating problems' at his apartment for his lateness. Dressed in a reefer jacket, jeans, work boots, an ethnic scarf and a woolly hat, he looked healthy, a contrast to some past appearances.
Stipe's beard and attire drew attention, with a passer-by shouting his name. The singer, who has been lead vocalist of REM for over 30 years, was ushered into an elevator by a press officer, mentioning he had not yet had breakfast despite it being nearly 4pm. The band's 15th album, 'Collapse Into Now', is due for release.
During the interview, Stipe reflected on his struggles with fame and articulation. 'I still hadn't learned how to talk or how to look someone in the eye and finish a thought,' he said of his earlier years. He noted that he now avoids certain TV shows because 'I don't talk like that, I don't think like that'.
Stipe also discussed the contradictions of REM's rise to global stardom in the 1980s, when their audience expanded beyond 'the freaks, the fags, the fat girls, the art students and the indie music fanatics'. He recalled looking out at crowds that included people who 'did not share my political leanings or affiliations' and who 'held lots of my world views in great disregard'.
