Eight years after the breakup of R.E.M., the band’s former frontman Michael Stipe is ready to release his debut solo single, a song called “Your Capricious Soul” that he’s been playing live and will be released digitally this weekend to benefit the climate action group Extinction Rebellion.
The song will be released Saturday via Stipe’s own webiste, michaelstipe.com. The track’s 77-cent download price will benefit Extiniction Rebellion — thought there will be an option to download it for free — and the release is timed to advance Monday’s International Rebellion climate justice protests.
The track will not immediately appear on streaming platforms, according to Stipe’s website.
A video by artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson also will be released alongside the single.
Stipe says of his decision to release new music:
“I took a long break from music, and I wanted to jump back in. I love ‘Your Capricious Soul’ — it’s my first solo work. I want to add my voice to this exciting shift in consciousness. Extinction Rebellion gave me the incentive to push the release and not wait. Our relationship to the environment has been a lifelong concern, and I now feel hopeful — optimistic, even. I believe we can bring the kind of change needed to improve our beautiful planet earth, our standing and our place on it.”
Below, check out a live performance of “Your Capricious Soul.”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- R.E.M., Sonic Youth, The Damned, Oingo Boingo, Squeeze may have lost tapes in UMG fire
- Watch: R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe performs 3 new songs while opening for Patti Smith in NYC
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- 9-disc ‘R.E.M. at the BBC’ features ’84 live set, full ‘Monster’ tour show, Glastonbury ’99 and more
- The absolute best of R.E.M.: All 282 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers
- R.E.M. to release 14 hours of live material, TV appearances in 6-DVD ‘REMTV’ box
I know where he could find a better backing band.
My thoughts exactly.
Peter, Mike, and Bill? The world needs you.
Looking forward to hearing it. Michael Stipe has too much to say not be be making music.
Saw Mike and Chuck Lavell in Savannah tonight…waited all night for Stipe to drop in..