Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe—who, at age 54, is starting to bear a passing resemblance to John Malkovich—gave an interview to “CBS This Morning” that aired Saturday in which he looked back on his 30-year career to promote REMTV, a DVD box set of the band’s television appearances. Here are some of the highlights:
• On growing up in public: “I was so shy. It took me the ’80s to learn how to look somebody in the eye and speak.”
• On drummer Bill Berry quitting: “When Bill left, and we were a three-piece suddenly, we were thrown so off balance.”
• On whether he sings since R.E.M. broke up in 2008 2011: “I sing in the shower. And I’m not bad. You’d be surprised at my playlist… I just had to step away for a while. I think I’ll sing again. That may be an exclusive, but yeah, I think I’ll sing again.”
• On whether R.E.M. will get back together: “No. Never, ever, ever. There’s no point… I despise nostalgia. I’m not good at looking back, no.”
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