Michael Stipe officially came out of the closet yesterday, after about 25 years of him sticking everything out but maybe one pinky. Hey, I do admire him for coming out, and I will pretend it has nothing to do with the new album R.E.M is releasing in two weeks and instead know that Michale is one of the great guys in the world and that when he says,"I recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.” To read his coming out interview with US Weekly, click here.
He should have probably come to that realization even 10 years ago when R.E.M was at their peak, and he could have helped some kids, rather than now, when the only people that listen to the group are people like me, and people trying to see if they can memorize all the words to End Of The World.
So, yes Michael is a great guy and all, but he is also a guy who knows everything about the music business and promotion. He ain't stupid, and what would have been a brief mention of Accelerate which is due on April 1st in Rolling Stone, and now instead there is a story in US Weekly, and probably some other weekly magazines for a story that is really not that much of a story. It's not like he is giving away much except for that last pinky. But now, maybe SNL and Dave will have them on. Hell, SNL and Dave will probably have them on anyway. If he does Regis & Kelly though, any credibility will be gone out the window.
I couldn't decide on a favorite R.E.M. song, so just went with a classic which everyone likes.
everybody hurts- my fav
ReplyDeletei love the big accidental LOL to the right of Stipe in the pic.
I could have SWORN he came out years ago....?????? *confused*
ReplyDeleteEither way, it always merits a "congrats" - so....CONGRATS! :)
I'm confused too. Didn't he come out a long time ago?
ReplyDeleteYeah, he came out in the 90's or even earlier. Whacho talkin' about Ent?
ReplyDeleteIt's not ENT, I've seen this story everywhere today. *still confused* LOL
ReplyDeleteI've seen this story everywhere, too, but Michael K of Dlisted pointed out too--the dude has "come out" like 25 fucking times. I knew he was gay when I was like ten years old, and I barely knew what gay was back then.
ReplyDeleteMichael Stipe is gay?!?
ReplyDeleteIn other breaking news, water is wet and bears do, indeed, poop in the woods.
I'm shocked...I thought he came out years ago.
ReplyDeleteHe came out as bisexual back in the 1990s, but maybe he just likes to remind us since REM tends to disappear every once and awhile.
ReplyDeleteI CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE IS SURPRISED.
ReplyDeleteMy REM fave is Fall On Me.
ReplyDeleteNightswimming - Best. R.E.M. Song. Evar. :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I also thought Stipe 'came out' a long time ago...
LOL, I also knew he was gay, when I was 10. I grew up knowing that he was gay and Walter Mercado was gay too.
ReplyDeleteFave REM songs: Leave, Let Me In, and I Don't Sleep, I Dream
I love REM though, can't wait to see them in May!
Yeah I remember him talking about his long time relationship with a guy. And that was several years ago. I think I read recently that he wished he had come out sooner so he could have been more help (as in roll model, not dirty thinking!) to confused kids because he had been one once too.
ReplyDeleteDude Abides...mine, too--close second, Driver 8.
ReplyDeleteFave REM album--Document (and I DO know all the words to ITEOTWAWKIAIFF)
Still love REM!!!
Ent, is this the guy from the BI a few weeks ago, who was told no one would give a f*ck if he came out? Maybe? Maybe Not?
ReplyDeleteEither way, he's another perfect example of someone waiting till he's past his prime to use his true orientation as a means to create last ditch buzz for a project. He did stick his foot out of the closet back in the 90's, saying he was Bi. But if no one (except Marc Jacobs) really gave two shits then why should they now.
I think I remember Michael Stipe as bisexual even during the peak of REM. Whatever his sexual preference is REM was a great band because of him. I just wish they could still make music these days that people can enjoy, like the way they used to.
ReplyDeleteFrom many years ago, I seem to recall hearing from many a sexually-confused friend who idolized Stipe that he was known to co-habitate with none other than Morrisey. Seems they lived together for years, though Morrisey professed to be celibate. I have never heard of them breaking up, but it's possible. Still, it was kind of widely known 'back in the day' that they were boyfriends.
ReplyDeleteI was SO sure, too he already had come out in the early nineties! He really hasn't? I have known forever he's gay and so seems everybody else on this blog. He really didn't come out a long time ago? Really? Reallyreallyreally? I don't buy it.
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ReplyDeleteI can't even decide on a favorite album let alone a favorite song. I like Swan Swan H. I like Driver 8. I like Don't Go Back to Rockville.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing that Morrissey's "Found, Found, Found" was written for Stipe, but I never knew if it was only a rumor. Anyone know for sure?
I don't care if he's gay (and yes its obvious, Michael). I love him anyway.
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ReplyDeleteLOL at the title of this post....Hello, Michael himself WAS the "Hot Chick" when he was young and pretty!
ReplyDeleteLike here :
http://mikemillsfan.com/wp-content/gallery/scans/rem_scan_q_1.jpg
http://mikemillsfan.com/wp-content/gallery/scans/scan_rem_1984.jpg
http://mikemillsfan.com/wp-content/gallery/scans/rem_scan_23.jpg
And speaking of Morrissey and Michael as a couple...An even more interesting thing is, I wonder if anyone noticed the CLOSE relationship between Michael and Peter Buck in the early years of the band. Until about 1986 at least I am absolutely sure they were having a very intimate relationship. That is another obvious one. I would say Peter was the one who was more interested in Michael actually! They used to live together as room mates in some old abandonded church when they had no money as young guys just starting the band. But then in the late 80's Peter Buck got married and later had kids so the relationship between Michael and him was over. It's a shame because until the mid 80's they looked like they really belonged together and seemed to be inseparable. Always together giving interviews and flirting with each other on stage.
Then Peter became "straight" and ordinary and left Michael on his own.
Michael was a really sexy "Femme Fatale" in his beautiful youth. Like in the Velvet Underground song which he covers so well. I envy all those MANY lucky guys who got to DO him back in the 70's and 80's.
ReplyDeleteAnd Michael and Morrissey were indeed a couple for a while in the early 90's. Here is a cute picture of the lovers in 1991 :
http://www.somedizzywhore.com/.a/6a0128769a17f0970c0133f595c0ee970b-pi
You can see how pleased Michael looks there...he's found himself a good catch!
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ReplyDeleteHere's what Morrissey once said about their affair, I think very interesting :
ReplyDeleteQ: Your relationship with Michael Stipe seemed promising at one stage?
M: Promising?! What did you think we were going to do? Become a Millican and Nesbitt? But, yes. The temperament is the same, the sense of rationale is the same.
Q: Do you think you'll make music with him?
M:(laughs)I can't think of any reason why! No, the whole joy about the relationship is that music doesn't come into it. We don't ever talk about R.E.M. or whatever it is I do. There are other things to discuss.
Q: How did you actually meet?
M: Well he wrote to me for a long time and I wondered why. I was initially sceptical. I can't remember why. Then I decided that I would like to meet him, so we met and I was surprised that it was so easy and...compatible. It's very nice and, who knows, we may even get a cover on Hello!
Q: Michael and Morrissey invites us to their lovely home!
M: We can but dream.
Sounds pretty good to me! They looked very cute together.
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ReplyDeleteMichael Stipe was a huge SKANK when he was young. And a totally messed up junkie as well. Maybe all that scared Morrissey away at some point when he realized what a badly messed up drug addict and promiscuous slut Michael really was.
ReplyDeleteBefore Miley Cyrus, before Lady Gaga, before Britney Spears and before Courtney Love there was Michael Stipe...and Madonna.He is definitely most alike with Courtney Love. It's no surprise that they are very good friends. They've had such similar lives and problems.
And Michael & Peter Buck were totally the modern day Scarlett O'Hara & Rhett Butler. Michael is so much like Scarlett. A real feisty Southern Belle!