In 2016, Michael Stipe singing on-stage is the musical equivalent of a shiny Pokemon sighting (note: very rare). And if you were worried that there was any rust on the former R.E.M. frontman at all, fear not: his cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” on The Tonight Show shows he hasn’t lost a single step.
Stipe was singing his Bowie cover in advance of his performance at Radio City Music Hall’s star-studded “Music Of David Bowie” tribute concerts. The two sold-out shows paying tribute to the late legend will include performances by Stipe, Blondie, the Pixies and the Roots among others (sadly, no Prince).
Though Stipe is much more likely to be in the news for his political opinions nowadays, he has performed a few shows recently. Still no whiff of an R.E.M. reunion though, even as Out Of Time gets talked up on its 25th anniversary.
Fans who want to watch solo Stipe and the rest of the star-studded concert can still do so from the comfort of their own homes, provided they give a donation to be shared among several music-based charities like Grammys In Our Schools and Little Kids Rock. Check it out here and brush up on your Bowie classics beforehand with our rundown of our favorite Thin White Duke tunes.
