Mike Mills Praises Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy's R.E.M. Tours

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

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:00am

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mike Mills, the bass player of the band R.E.M., has praised the work of actors Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy, who have been touring and performing the music of R.E.M. since 2023. Mills says the shows have given him a new perspective on his own band's music and live performances, which he was never able to fully experience himself as a member of the group.

Why it matters

R.E.M. was one of the most influential and successful alternative rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, and Mills' praise for Shannon and Narducy's tribute shows highlights the enduring legacy and impact of the band's music. The tours have also allowed Mills to gain new insights into his own musical contributions and the experience of being an R.E.M. fan.

The details

Shannon and Narducy have been touring with a band to celebrate the music of R.E.M. since 2023. Mills says the shows have 'reinforced' what he thought R.E.M. sounded like and given him 'an idea of the power, and the joy, of an R.E.M. show.' Mills notes that Shannon and Narducy are 'seriously talented musicians' who 'love our music as much as we do, and that love shows in their performance.' Mills has even joined them on stage during the tours, saying it was 'more fun than I've had doing almost anything in quite a while.'

  • Shannon and Narducy's most recent R.E.M. tour was in celebration of the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.'s fourth studio album, Lifes Rich Pageant.
  • They will kick off another leg of the tour in September.

The players

Mike Mills

A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the bass player of the band R.E.M.

Michael Shannon

An actor who has been touring and performing the music of R.E.M. with his musical partner Jason Narducy.

Jason Narducy

A musician who has been touring and performing the music of R.E.M. with his partner 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 their R.E.M. tribute tour in September.

The takeaway

Mike Mills' praise for Shannon and Narducy's R.E.M. tribute shows highlights the enduring legacy and impact of the band's music, as well as the joy and power of live performances that Mills himself was never able to fully experience as a member of the group.