UPDATE: As promised, I have scanned and uploaded scans from the latest issue of UNCUT magazine. View them below (the first six images): for best quality, right-click on a thumbnail and open in a new tab or window.
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Several new interviews with Mike Mills have surfaced, either online or in print. Let’s start with the videos. Apparently Michael Stipe and Mike Mills are in England, because they have talked to BBC and XFM and discussed the reasons behind the breakup of R.E.M., while at the same time promoting their upcoming 40-song retrospective. The good news for us is that, while Stipe seems to have completely lost interest in making music, Mills is keen to continue, and looks like his solo album will be hitting the shelves sometime in the (hopefully near) future! Says Mike: “I’ve actually spoken to several people with whom I’d like to write songs but I don’t want to jinx it by naming names.” Fair enough Mike, just don’t keep us waiting for too long! We know that you’re a perfectionist and all, but we’re kinda impatient here!
Watch the interviews below:
XFM’s Danny Wallace interviews Michael Stipe and Mike Mills (Part 1)
XFM’s Danny Wallace interviews Michael Stipe and Mike Mills (Part 2)
BBC Newsnight’s Gavin Esler interviews Michael Stipe and Mike Mills
Watch it here
Also, in an interview with Mojo (via NME), Mike has reinforced that Stipe is unlikely to do a solo record. Says Mike: “I don’t think that’s [music] is where his passion lies. I think he wants to be in the visual arts. I imagine Michael will do a lot of sculpture and photography. I think those are his big interests now.”
Yeah, we’ve figured out that much ourselves.
I have also purchased the latest issue of UNCUT, containing another interview with Mike and a farewell to R.E.M. by their long time supporter Allan Jones. I’m scanning the feature right now, and I’ll be uploading it shortly.
Finally, an announcement has just been made that Mike Mills and his fellow Big Star addicts Chris Stamey, Mitch Easter, Ken Stringfellow and Big Star’s own Jody Stephens are bringing their show – a fully-orchestrated performance of Big Star’s album Third/Sister Lovers – to London in May 2012! As you all remember, Chris Stamey reorchestrated the entire album based on Alex Chilton’s original intentions, and the aforementioned show has already toured several American cities. The concert will take place at London’s Barbican Hall on 28 May 2012 at 8pm, and the tickets can be purchased here! See y’all there! And a warm thank you to Helen and Linda for sharing the news with us!
Tags: Alex Chilton, Barbican Hall, Big Star, Chris Stamey, Jody Stephens, Ken Stringfellow, London, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Mitch Easter, R.E.M., Sister Lovers
November 5th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Thanks for the XFM video – I’d missed that entirely. Continuing their blitz of radio in the UK Mike and Michael were on Radio 4′s Front Row yesterday. I missed it but you can download a podcast of the show here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/frontrow
November 6th, 2011 at 12:23 am
THNX Ivana! so nice to see the guys again…
looking forward to the Uncut interview.
and Helen- and thank you for the link.
November 9th, 2011 at 8:22 am
Thanks Helen! I’ll add it the podcast to our archive soon.
And good to see you too Charky! Now that Mike has officially stated that he intends to continue making music, there’s no reason for us not to continue with this website!
November 9th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Welcome back Ivana…..we all missed you. The upcoming solo album will be eagerly awaited.
November 9th, 2011 at 9:13 am
THNX again for the scanning Ivana! great article.
Mike &michael had another interview toady at BBC radio 6.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00lr07l
sadly it’s not available in my area so if anyone can find a link that works internationally Il’l be most thankfull…
November 9th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Thanks for the link Charky! No worries, I’ll grab the interview tonight.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:48 am
I know where I’ll be on 28 May 2012!
November 10th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Thanks for the Uncut scans. There’s also a piece on the REM split in Mojo with a Mike interview attached – not much new ground covered but I thought the writers analysis of late period REM was good.
November 10th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Will check it out! Meanwhile another good interview was published by The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/nov/10/rem-interview-michael-stipe?newsfeed=true
November 10th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
And another phone interview with Mike:
November 13th, 2011 at 1:02 am
thanks Ivana!
these interviews are so repetitive… nice info regarding Mike VS Lotus though…
November 14th, 2011 at 1:05 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbCvPv6NTnw
November 15th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Yay – I got my ticket too for the Barbican and it looks like I’ll be sitting by you Ivana!
November 15th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Thanks Charky! Here’s an even better clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLwZZNaON-8 Several friends were there, we’ll have lots of photos to share soon.
And yay Helen! It’s gonna be a great gig. Gosh I need to make a new post, with all these new interviews and videos, but I have a nasty bout of fly, I’m all feverish. Hope I’ll get better by tomorrow.
November 16th, 2011 at 5:08 am
Here are some photos of Mikey rockin the house from Athens Banner Herald http://athenscms.com/oa/zenphoto/111311%20REM%20Release%20Party/
December 16th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
September 11th, 2012 at 12:27 am
Good depth