Michael Stipe Debuts Solo Song on Colbert, Announces 2024 Album

Michael Stipe, the former frontman of R.E.M., made a return appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday evening, where he debuted an unreleased song from his forthcoming debut solo album and announced its release later this year.

Performing "The Rest of Ever" for the first time live, Stipe teamed up with bandleader Louis Cato and the house band, known as The Great Big Joy Machine. The track, which Colbert described as coming from Stipe's "upcoming incredible album," served as a preview of the project Stipe has been developing for years. "As a gift to you and the show, the song we're performing tonight, it's the first time it's ever been played, and I'm so pleased to do it with the band," Stipe said before the performance.

During the interview, Stipe revealed that the album, his first full-length solo release, is slated for the end of 2024, though a title has not yet been announced. He explained that he is currently finalizing the lyrics and shared details about some of its unconventional tracks. One song captures "the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time," inspired by a recording his friend made of a tree in Stipe's Georgia backyard using MIDI...