John Michael Stipe (born January 4, 1960) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band R.E.M. Stipe has become well-known (and occasionally parodied) for the "mumbling" style of his early career and for his complex, surreal lyrics, as well as his social and political activism.
Stipe is in charge of the band's visual image, often selecting album artwork and directing many of the band's music videos. Stipe's work extends outside of the music industry, and he runs his own film production companies, C-00 and Single Cell Pictures. Stipe was born in Decatur, Georgia. Stipe was a military brat; his father was a serviceman in the United States Army whose career resulted in frequent relocations for his family. Stipe and his family moved to various locales during his childhood, including Germany, Texas, Illinois, Alabama and Georgia. Stipe graduated from Collinsville (Illinois) High School in 1978, and enrolled at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, as an art major, studying photography and painting.
Film and television work
In early 1987 Stipe co-founded C00 Films with Jim Mckay, a mixed-media company that was "designed to channel its founder's creative talents towards the creation and promotion of alternative film works." Stipe and his producing partner, Sandy Stern, have served as executive producers on films including Being John Malkovich, Velvet Goldmine, and Man on the Moon. He was also credited as a producer of the 2004 film Saved!. Stipe has made a number of acting appearances on film and on television. Stipe appeared in an episode of The Adventures of Pete & Pete as an ice cream man named Captain Scrummy. Stipe has appeared as himself with R.E.M. on Sesame Street playing a reworked version of "Shiny Happy People" called "Furry Happy Monsters", and appeared in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Homer the Moe", where R.E.M. was tricked into playing a show in Homer Simpson's garage. Stipe also voiced a reindeer named Schnitzel in the Christmas cartoon special Olive, the Other Reindeer.
Discography
* With The Golden Palominos: "Boy (Go)", "Omaha", and "Clustering Train" on Visions of Excess (1985). "Alive and Living Now" on Drunk With Passion (1991).
* With Indigo Girls : "Kid Fears" on Indigo Girls (1988)
* With Neneh Cherry: "Trout" on Homebrew (1992).
* "My Gang" on Kerouac: Kicks Joy Darkness (1997).
* With Vic Chesnutt: "Injured Bird" on The End of Violence (1997).
* With Rain Phoenix: "Happiness" on the soundtrack for the film Happiness (1998).
* With Community Trolls: "Tainted Obligation" (1983) on To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet (2002).
* With The Indigo Girls: "I'll Give You My Skin" on Rarities (2005).
* "L'Hôtel" (Serge Gainsbourg cover) on Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (2006).
* With Placebo: "Broken Promise" on Meds (2007).
* With Miguel Bosé: Lo Que Hay Es Lo Que Ves on "Papito" (2007)
Singles
* 2006 "In the Sun" (with Chris Martin), #1 (Canada)
Compilation albums
* Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films - "Opening Melody - Little April Shower" (with Natalie Merchant and Mark Bingham and The Roches)
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