Links have become the suburbs of the real world. — Michael Stipe

Death is pretty final./I’m collecting vinyl./I’m gonna DJ at the end of the world/’cause if heaven does exists/with a kickin’ playlist/I don’t wanna miss it at the end of the world — Michael Stipe

The world of WONDERLAND is authentic, vibrant, and genuine. Stacey D’Erasmo explores the delight and terror of second chances. A great read! — Michael Stipe

The song ‘Sing for the Submarine’ presents my dream world, which is way different from my waking world. It’s set in the future and it’s post–apocalyptic. — Michael Stipe

I think there were early critics who wanted us to change the world because the Sex Pistols failed. — Michael Stipe

If I’m tired of me, I’m sure the public is as well. — Michael Stipe

When I get really hammered I take my clothes off. That’s a sure sign. It’s been a long time since the last time I did that. Probably a year. — Michael Stipe

A wise man once said, ‘The skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave.’ — Michael Stipe

I went through this difficult time [in the 1984] when we were making our third record where I kind of lost my mind. That’s when the bulimia kicked in. And that’s when I got really freaky. — Michael Stipe

I’m kind of quoting Thurston [Moore] and Kim [Gordon] in saying that about not being great with addicts, because they are the ones who said it to me. — Michael Stipe

I’m just not that fascinating a person to have had all those lives that I’ve written about. — Michael Stipe

For me, as a music fan, visuals kind of steal away the purity of the song. My instinct is not to provide a visual to go with a piece of music. But here’s MTV. It’s really powerful. — Michael Stipe

Super casual music listeners. That’s most of the people in the world. And you have to understand, that’s why Top 40 radio exists. It’s not there for people who seek out music and who love music. — Michael Stipe

Go f––k yourselves, the lot of you–you sad, attention–grabbing, power hungry little men. do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign. — Michael Stipe

When I write, I tend toward melancholy, and the few times that I’ve tried pure joy in music, it doesn’t really work that well. The joy can be through catharsis. I think that’s what I do well, and observation. — Michael Stipe

In fact, a lot of critics seemed to consider R.E.M. the first American music since the ’60s to break out on its own and develop a stand–alone sound. — Michael Stipe

Never eat broccoli when there are cameras around. — Michael Stipe

Man, you guys sound great. If I wasn’t in the band, I’d be a big fan. I’d go see us live. I would be irritated by me every now and then, but I would like us a lot. — Michael Stipe

Here’s a truck stop instead of St. Peter’s. — Michael Stipe

If you disagree with me, fine! Because that’s the great thing about America, we can disagree! — Michael Stipe

I remember traffic jams Motor boys and girls with tans Nearly was and almost rans I remember this, this … At the edge of the continent — Michael Stipe

For every great thing we did, there is a very public moment of falling on our faces. But everything that came through us as a band was a distinct vision of R.E.M. — Michael Stipe

You don’t need to be talented. You don’t even have to play the guitar to be a guitar player in a punk–rock band. So I, in a very naïve and teenage way, said, ‘That’s it. I’m going to be in a band. — Michael Stipe