Michael Stipe revealed that he and R.E.M. are plotting some type of 40th anniversary event commemorating the 1980 formation of the band. Stipe spoke about the prospects of celebrating the band, which called it a day back in 2011, and told Uncut: “I'm sure we're doing something, but honestly I don't know what. I certainly want to mark it. I was with Patti Smith when she went back to Electric Lady (Studios) and did a live-in-the-studio version of Horses 40 years later, and I opened for her at the Beacon Theatre on the actual 40th anniversary of the releases of Horses. You know what that record meant to me, so I saw how to do it properly. And I'm sure we're going to respond.”
When asked if he missed being part of rock's cultural center these days, Stipe, who's quietly been releasing tracks online, explained, “No, I had my moment, and I think I did pretty well with it. I'm really happy to do what I'm doing right now, I wouldn't try to compare or contrast who I am now, what I'm doing now — musically or otherwise — with who I was as a 35-year-old. I happened to be on a very tall world stage at that point. And now I'm not in that position; others are. And good for them.”
Back in 2007, upon R.E.M.s' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Michael Stipe told us he was glad the Rock Hall had taken the time to examine and honor R.E.M.'s past: “I'm always thinking about the next song, and the next record, and the next video, and the next tour, and trying to continue doing good and sometimes great work. So, in terms of being inducted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I mean, it's really awesome that somebody is taking the time to look backwards and recognize that aspect of what we've done.”
