Michael Stipe's gay. Didn't we already tackle this? Like, back in the 90's? I smell an upcoming album release. I will say that I am an R.E.M. fan. I never really got past Monster, but the first cd I ever owned was Document so they occupy a little chamber in my frozen heart. But who didn't know Michael Stipe liked the D?
Anyway, he's made it official in Spin magazine. "It was super complicated for me in the '80s," he tells Spin. "I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious."
I thought so, too. Stipe says that he realizes that "to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there." Ya know, he seems like a really smart guy so uh, that didn't occur to his ass earlier in life? Isn't he all about the issues? How did he miss that one? Their new album Accelerate comes out on April 1. Interesting timing.
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Tony says:
Interesting you guys make some snarky comment when the fact of the matter is Stipe has been out of the closet for years. I remember reading press with him in 2001 where he talks about being a "queer" artist. Oh i forgot most people don't read.
sandy says:
Sorry, I CAN'T STAND him! He is not a cool gay. There are hundreds of really cool, awesome gays. He is not one of them...
Chaz says:
There's a difference between "queer" and homosexual. Queer is more a cultural designation.
This isn't really a surprise, but Stipe still looks a little weaselly in that he didn't make this announcement back when R.E.M. still had something to lose. Now that their commercial peak is long past, he can afford to be "courageous."
mojoman says:
Zzzzz...trying to get in a spotlight much?
Bleb says:
The guy's a multi-millionaire and dresses like a hobo. He needs to go back to gay school.
rico says:
the real story is that he looks sick....
Stipe Watcher says:
Michael came out as bisexual officially in a 1996 interview with Ikon magazine. This is such old news.