Michael Stipe Performs R.E.M. Songs for the First Time in 18 Years

The former R.E.M. frontman joined actor Michael Shannon and indie rocker Jason Narducy on stage in Brooklyn.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Michael Stipe, the former frontman of the iconic band R.E.M., joined actor Michael Shannon and indie rock veteran Jason Narducy onstage at Brooklyn Steel in New York City to perform two R.E.M. songs - "These Days" and "The Great Beyond" - marking the first time Stipe has played either song live in 18 years.

Why it matters

Stipe's surprise appearance with Shannon and Narducy, who are currently on a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.'s album Lifes Rich Pageant, is a rare and exciting moment for R.E.M. fans, as the former bandmates have largely remained out of the spotlight in recent years.

The details

Shannon and Narducy are touring the U.S. performing R.E.M. songs, and when Stipe stepped on stage, the crowd went wild. Stipe grabbed the microphone and spoke about how surreal it was to hear the songs performed by others, saying "You can't imagine how insane it is to hear these songs performed by people so talented." Stipe then joined the band, singing "These Days" and "The Great Beyond" with his signature vocal style.

  • On Saturday night, March 8, 2026, Stipe joined Shannon and Narducy on stage at Brooklyn Steel in New York City.
  • Stipe previously joined Shannon and Narducy at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia in 2024, though he did not sing at that time.
  • In 2025, Stipe hit the stage with Shannon and Narducy to perform "Pretty Persuasion" in Athens and Brooklyn.

The players

Michael Stipe

The former frontman of the iconic band R.E.M.

Michael Shannon

An actor who is currently touring the U.S. with Jason Narducy, performing R.E.M. songs to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's album Lifes Rich Pageant.

Jason Narducy

An indie rock veteran who is currently touring the U.S. with Michael Shannon, performing R.E.M. songs to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's album Lifes Rich Pageant.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You can't imagine how insane it is to hear these songs performed by people so talented. I've always been right in the middle of the songs, so to hear them is really fucking surreal.”

— Michael Stipe (consequence.net)

What’s next

Shannon and Narducy's tour to celebrate R.E.M's Lifes Rich Pageant is on its tail end, with six more shows left at the time of this writing, with stops in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago (twice), Minneapolis, and Bloomington.

The takeaway

Stipe's surprise appearance with Shannon and Narducy is a rare and exciting moment for R.E.M. fans, as the former bandmates have largely remained out of the spotlight in recent years. This performance marks the first time Stipe has played these R.E.M. songs live in 18 years, and his emotional reaction to hearing the songs performed by others underscores the enduring legacy of the band.