Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy's R.E.M. Tribute Tours Praised by Mike Mills

The R.E.M. bassist says the shows have given him insight into his own band's impact.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:00am

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mike Mills, the bassist of the iconic band R.E.M., has praised the R.E.M. tribute tours led by actor Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy. Mills says the shows have allowed him to experience what it was like to see his own band perform, especially in their early days, and that Shannon and Narducy's group is a "seriously talented" act that truly loves R.E.M.'s music.

Why it matters

R.E.M. was one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, but as a member, Mills says he could never fully experience what it was like to see the band perform live. The tribute tours led by Shannon and Narducy have given Mills a new perspective on his own musical legacy.

The details

Shannon and Narducy have been touring to celebrate the music of R.E.M. since 2023, and Mills has even joined them on stage during some of the shows. Mills says the tribute band "reinforced what I thought we sounded like, but gave me an idea of the power, and the joy, of an R.E.M. show." He adds that Shannon and Narducy are "not imitators" but "seriously talented musicians" who truly love R.E.M.'s music.

  • The Shannon and Narducy R.E.M. tribute tours began in 2023.
  • Mills joined the tribute band on stage during their tours.
  • The most recent R.E.M. tribute tour celebrated the 40th anniversary of the band's fourth studio album, Lifes Rich Pageant.
  • Shannon and Narducy will kick off another leg of the R.E.M. tribute tour in September.

The players

Mike Mills

A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the bassist for the iconic band R.E.M.

Michael Shannon

An actor who has been touring to celebrate the music of R.E.M. alongside musician Jason Narducy.

Jason Narducy

A musician who has been touring to celebrate the music of R.E.M. alongside actor Michael Shannon.

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What they’re saying

“One of the ironies about being in R.E.M. is that I could never see my band play. I could never truly know the effect our music had on our fans, or what it might have felt like to see us at any point in our musical journey, especially the early days.”

— Mike Mills, R.E.M. bassist

“This band not only reinforced what I thought we sounded like, but gave me an idea of the power, and the joy, of an R.E.M. show.”

— Mike Mills, R.E.M. bassist

“Thank you, guys, for being so much more than a mirror, for being a great band, and for keeping the joy of our music alive for us, and for our fans.”

— Mike Mills, R.E.M. bassist

What’s next

Shannon and Narducy will kick off another leg of the R.E.M. tribute tour in September.

The takeaway

R.E.M.'s bassist Mike Mills has gained new appreciation for his own band's music and legacy through the tribute tours led by Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy, which have allowed him to experience the power and joy of an R.E.M. performance in a way he never could as a member of the band.