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With heavy heart, we lost a great champion and friend today in Hal Willner, Hal was truly one of the greatest music lovers and supporters I’ve ever met and a dear colleague and friend. —Michael

Tune in tomorrow to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert with Michael as musical guest. Please visit Stephen’s site for more information.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the band’s first show–April 5, 1980–at a deconsecrated Episcopal church, St. Mary’s, on Oconee Street in Athens.

Photographer Brigette Lacombe took this photo of Michael for Vogue Paris, December 1996/January 1997. The issue also included shots of Bjork, Beck, Denis Rodman, Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Toni Braxton, and Fugees. View all of the photos at: @90s_models_ Instagram  

NO TIME FOR LOVE LIKE NOW    First take! A new song with Aaron Dessner.  This is the demo track.  Echoing Love xxx Michael  

“I got a text from our great friend and comrade Ian the other day, and it made me chuckle, this beautiful memory of Bill. He said I could share it with you all. Love from Michael”

“I absolutely loved Bill’s laugh. it was a big baritone burst of air. A huge ha. It came from deep in him and you knew exactly when he enjoyed something. It filled the room his laugh did. That and his fantastic hair and smile.

Scott has written a beautiful remembrance of Bill Rieflin at the Minus 5 website. 

“I woke up to the news of Bill Rieflin’s passing this morning. Of course he was a consummate musician; but I hold close my personal memories of Bill the dapper gentleman whose mischievous sense of humor, usually dark, was ever on target;

It is with heavy hearts we acknowledge the death of our dear friend and consummate drummer, Bill.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING: We are happy to report that Return to Mt. Kennedy is now streaming FREE for Amazon Prime subscribers. The film is a warm and increasingly relevant documentary that follows the less traveled path of Bobby Whittaker, long time R.E.M tour manager and friend of the band. As Michael Stipe says, Return to Mt. Kennedy is … Continued

On September 13, 2019, Bill, Peter, and Mike performed a few songs at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta for the “Revival” show to benefit Georgia’s historic theaters. One of the songs was Pylon’s “Crazy” which fans will remember as the opening track on R.E.M.’s Dead Letter Office and one the band had included in their … Continued

Underneath the bunker. We are going to get through it.  

Message from Michael… watch the longer version at michaelstipe.com