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

Mills says the shows have given him insight into his own band's live performances.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Mike Mills, the bassist of the 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 band is "seriously talented" and "loves our music as much as we do."

Why it matters

R.E.M. was one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, but as a member, Mike Mills was never able to fully experience what it was like for fans to see the band perform live. The tribute tours led by Shannon and Narducy have given Mills that opportunity and a new appreciation for the power and joy of R.E.M.'s music.

The details

Shannon and Narducy have been touring to celebrate the music of R.E.M. since 2023, and Mills has joined them on stage during their shows. Mills says the experience has been "more fun than I've had doing almost anything in quite a while." He notes that Shannon and Narducy aren't simply imitating R.E.M., but are a "real band who loves our music as much as we do, and that love shows in their performance."

  • 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 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and the bassist of the band R.E.M.

Michael Shannon

An actor who has been touring to celebrate the music of R.E.M. since 2023.

Jason Narducy

A musician who has been touring with Michael Shannon to celebrate the music of R.E.M. since 2023.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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, Bassist, R.E.M.

“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, Bassist, R.E.M.

“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, Bassist, R.E.M.

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 the R.E.M. tribute tours led by Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy highlights the enduring impact and influence of R.E.M.'s music, even decades after the band's heyday. The tours have allowed Mills to experience his own band's live performances through the eyes of fans, giving him a new appreciation for the power and joy of R.E.M.'s music.