Michael Stipe

by Rob Jovanovic

For the last quarter of a century Michael Stipe has been the lead singer of R.E.M, who from their humble beginnings toured and built a steadily growing legion of fans before breaking into the mainstream during the early 1990s. Today Stipe is one of the most instantly recognisable faces in rock and R.E.M. are held in a respect that only 25 years of excellent song writing and hard work can justify. But Stipe is much more than just the singer. Michael The Biography will explore his nomadic early years as the child in a military family, his early love of punk and photography, his relationship with his two sisters and the drive behind one of the hardest working men in music. When not working with R.E.M. Stipe has a keen interest in film making, from pop videos and independent shorts to producing big budget full-length movies; he is keenly interested in politics, he led high profile endorsements of the Democratic party in recent elections and for many years has been a champion of environmental concerns. Using first hand testimony from those who have worked closely with Stipe, Jovanovic presents a rounded picture of this most enigmatic of pop stars.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Barry Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it's a biography by a journalist, using a lot of existing sources, this is a good look at the history of Michael Stipe, lead singer and front man for R.E.M.. A good look at the history of the band and of his personal projects as well. He and the band have always had an aura of mystery and this pulls back the curtain to look at both his professional and personal life with some degree of objectivity. It also serves as a reminder of how many great songs they had over the past quarter of a century which can be revisited and enjoyed. - BH.

[Alec Downie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sound intro to a complex enigma.

I am not sure I learned anything more about Stipe than I already know or could be found by going through old interviews and YouTube clips, though fitting 25+ years into 200 pages was a masterclass in the concise.

The book could also do with an update to cover the limbo years since REM chose to ground the ship on the jagged rocks of impending mediocracy.

That said, they remain a band that is pivotal in bringing indie cool into mainstream, and social justice to the psyche of the musical masses.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Stipe is such an enigmatic figure, and he either plays into that, or he's completely misunderstood, depending on who you ask and/or when you ask.

Michael Stipe is famous for giving these (what seem to be) outrageous answers to questions about himself, and telling these (what seem to be) outlandish stories about his life. Is his first memory really of having scarlet fever and having his picture taken? Did he really have scarlet fever and his parents still insisted on having his picture taken, or was that a delirious dream that has stuck with him? Or did he completely and unknowingly make that story up? Does he really remember everything he ever got for Christmas from age 7, or was he misunderstood/misquoted?

Here, supposedly we get the "real" Michael Stipe, or at least as much of the real Michael Stipe as anyone could ever know. Jovanovic interviews people who know Stipe (at least I'm guessing he interviewed them, given that they're thanked in the acknowledgments), and uses past interviews to (try to) piece together the "real" Michael Stipe.

It makes one wonder, though... If Stipe, in 1984 for example, tells one crazy story, then in 1997 says he was misquoted by the journalist.... and told another "fact" in 1980 but then in 1998 says he was misunderstood by the journalist.... How much is Michael Stipe constantly pulling our leg? He either stretched the truth when he first told a story (for example, remembering every Christmas present he ever got since the age of 7), or when he said he was misquoted/misunderstood by a journalist, OR both times.

So how can we ever *really* know a person like that? I still think he tries to be a confusing enigma, and as much as any journalist wants to try to interview Stipe or the people around him, the story is still just going to be a variation on whatever Michael Stipe wants to put out there. I have a feeling only the Stipe family actually know Michael; methinks even R.E.M. get some percentage of a fabricated Stipe. But I still love him, and will still read books about him, especially ones written by someone like Rob Jovanovic.

The one caveat, though: if you're an R.E.M. fan, you've probably read these stories and quotes elsewhere. The book is still fabulous for completists, but there's very little you haven't heard or read already. Plus, a lot of the book seems like it's just switching out "R.E.M." or "the band" in other books for "Stipe and R.E.M." or "Stipe and the rest of the band" -- as if to make this a "Michael Stipe biography," Jovanovic had to emphasize Stipe more, even when what he was saying was about the entire band.

[Madalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good story about Michael Stipe, but I kept hoping to hear more about things I didn't already know. Also, while this book was fun to read, it was completed before the end of R.E.M., so made me more interested in hearing about his life the last few years.

[SeanM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was OK. If you've read other R.E.M. books, there is not a whole lot of new information

[MR M THOMAS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I have enjoyed much of the music produced by R.E.M. I had no real knowledge of the lead singer and the background history to the band. Like many biographies I have read, this was interesting to a point but I was left wondering if this was story really worth telling other than to hard core fans of Michael and the band.

[Joseph Keebler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes informative, this book covers events and comments surrounding one Michael Stipe. It doesn’t break down events with any investigative candor, but instead covers the events of a quarter century like a well written timeline. Fun and easy to read but ultimately a surface level evaluation.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice guy! Life-changing song writer and singer, modest, active in politics, what's not to love?

[Laura Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5

[José Bahamondes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante para conocer la vida de Michael Stipe, pero creo que no hay nada en este libro tan novedoso ni sorprendente que un seguidor de la banda no hubiese pensado anteriormente.

[Yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first 100 pages very hard to get through ... I do not read alot of biographies ... and maybe this is why ... I just find that sometimes there is too much detail. It was interesting in so far as I learned some things about Michael Stipe and REM that I didn't know and it was also like a trip down memory lane, hearing the names of some of the songs I had forgotten. It isn't a riveting read, but if you like REM you may want to borrow a copy.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I read this? I guess I was hoping to answer a question that only ever crossed my mind in the few seconds I stood in a library queue, staring into Michael's world-weary party face on the returns trolley. "Who IS Michael Stipe?" Now I know it's not a question anyone but Michael needs answered.

[Jim Nirmaier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written bio tracing REM's trajectory to the biggest band in the world from their humble Athens beginnings. Stipe seems to be a genuinely nice guy that has put his money, and fame, into many worthy causes. Glad I have been an REM fan from the very beginning!