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Quote by Michael Stipe

“I was a teenager, we were pretty much fully indoctrinated, thanks to sexual scare tactics. I remember so many public-health commercials with a B-actor in a fake alley background warning us to use protection or telling us the only real safe choice was abstinence. We were highly frightened of sex from day one. There was no free-swinging '90s.”

Quote by Michael Stipe

Author

Michael Stipe is an influential American singer known for his distinctive voice and musical talent. He is a founding member of the iconic American rock band R.E.M., which achieved massive success globally since the 1980s. Stipe is celebrated for his emotive lyrics and stage presence, leaving a profound impact on the music industry. more

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“I don't find R.E.M. to be nihilistic. There is a constant undertone of joyous optimism. I'm not going to kill myself to Patti Smith or R.E.M.”

Optimism Constant Joyous

Author:Michael Stipe

“I've never written a song that's hopeless. I'm not a hopeless person. I'm crazily optimistic. I crazily see the good in people. I crazily see the way out of a terrible situation. I crazily try to be the diplomat. If there are two warring factions in my life, I want them to agree to disagree at the very least.”

People Ifs Way Want Trying Persons Two Song Situation Written Terrible Agree Optimistic Hopeless Disagree Factions Diplomats Agree To Disagree

Author: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.”

Thinking Writing Wells Joy Pure Observation Melancholy Catharsis Pure Joy

Author:Michael Stipe

“I distinctly remember a conversation with my band in the van where I was having a complete meltdown. It was 1984, I think, and I was huddled in the back corner of our van and saying, "I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this." I didn't want to play any more shows. I just wanted to stop.”

Thinking Want I Can Play Shows Wanted Remember Band Conversation Corners Vans Meltdowns

Author: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.”

Mind Kind Lost Difficult Records Thirds Difficult Times Bulimia Freaky Lost My Mind

Author:Michael Stipe

“I was vegetarian, trying to eat from fast-food restaurants without meat. I didn't know how to eat properly and I was starving. I was adrenalized to the eyeballs from performing. I was afraid that I was sick with AIDS. We were playing five shows a week. I even went through a period of abstinence where I didn't drink and stopped having sex. Which is crazy. Maybe I'm answering too many questions at once here, but this is where my mind was at the age of 25.”

Knows Trying Mind Shows Age Sex Know How Five Week Crazy Periods Drink Sick Aids Performing Meat Restaurants Vegetarian Starving Fast Food Abstinence Having Sex Eyeballs Fast Food Restaurants

Author:Michael Stipe

“I was vulnerable every day. Every night that I stepped on stage I was laying myself open.”

Night Stage Vulnerable Every Night

Author:Michael Stipe

“I used to have Bible studies at my house. I was in the choir. I was mischievous but also a real mama's boy. It was a pretty happy childhood.”

Real Used House Boys Study Childhood Mama Bible Study Choir Mischievous Happy Childhood Mama's Boy

Author:Woody Harrelson

“It's always surprised me that mainstream America had the good taste to like R.E.M. It doesn't have the digestible quality the general public tends to look for in its favorite musicians.”

Looks America Quality Taste Musician Mainstream Good Taste General Public

Author:Christopher Bollen

“When we signed with Warner Bros., they knew what they were getting. They knew they weren't going to get some easily manipulated prepackaged pop group. That was not going to happen. What they wanted, I think, was the integrity that we had to offer. What they wanted was the kind of street cred or cache that R.E.M. could bring to them and the chance that we would give them a hit or two. What happened was we gave them a bunch of hits. And we became huge.”

Thinking Giving Kind Two Happens Wanted Chance Happened Groups Streets Huge Integrity Offers Pops Bunch Bros Warner Bros Cache

Author:Michael Stipe