R.E.M. Talk About 'What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?' | The Big Interview

Michael Stipe and Mike Mills of the alt rock band R.E.M. talk with Dan Rather about the group's beloved yet confusing single "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" (a track that Dan Rather himself has a connection to).
Later, Stipe and Mills talk about the band's hit song "Losing My Religion," how they grew to appreciate the music video format, and more on The Big Interview!
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[@Supernaturalgenie1-in2ke]

Michael Stipe - A lyrical genius.

[@Drstephenstokes]

Big respect for Dan Rather, being able to stay with it.

[@fishboy91]

Stay with what?

[@jayd1687a]

@@fishboy91The frequency, Kenneth.

[@mj-cw2oo]

Michael Stipe has such a beautiful way of speaking that makes you lean in and tell everyone else to "Shush"!!!!

[@rhyne9388]

Well said.

[@xxcelr8rs]

Can't get passed the nose ring. Nice band.

[@Brianopolis]

Oh man, the nostalgia! Monster was such an incredible album and marks such a remarkable time.

[@tracywilliamson4275]

@@Brianopolis The only time I have ever seen prosperity was back then. Bill Clinton was POTUS then. Now I'm just trying to survive.

[@northtone288]

Great interview. That is how you do it. No interuptions, no embarrassing questions.

[@Obrian81]

My fav REM song!! That opening guitar riff... Gets me chills every time! 🎸🎶🎵

[@jackcurtin5772]

Peter Buck is underrated

[@fredred5037]

Peter Buck constantly borders on bland riffs but somehow saves it at the last second with a touch of melody from the rest of the band.

[@OkieDokie-ft5pm]

@@fredred5037 I completely disagree with your opinion about Peter Buck. Those son-of-The-Bryds jingles & jangles are awesome!

[@phuckendeadly]

Love the intro of the guitar. My favourite song from REM

[@vonclohk507]

what's that crap hangin' from Stipe's nose?

[@juno4494]

Though I well-knew REM (starting when "Radio Free Europe" first blew me away back in college), Monster was just a groundbreaker. Coming back from Atlantic City one night (broke), a friend played it in his portable CD player the entire 6 hours of driving. When I got home, I instantly bought a copy, sat down to learn every song on my old Kramer, and didn't get up until I did. Now, 30 years later, the Kramer has been replaced by a Tele and a Les, but I still play them tunes!

[@tracywilliamson4275]

@@juno4494 So I'm not alone in saying that Monster was one of their best albums, but I like them all (except Fables of the Reconstruction). I was given my education in the band from working on college radio! 😁

[@AudiophileTommy]

That song will NEVER EVER get old !!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@michaelthorn4872]

I remember hearing that song on Amarillo College’s FM90 and just being floored!! My older buddy had a 72 Oldsmobile Cutlass that he would let me drive and I was like you have to hear this. He didn’t want to hear no REM but we drove around and listened to it all day! One of my favorite memories!!!

[@cory0778]

One of my favorites bands of all time. Great memories from times that will never come back.

[@DontGoToHell]

The Bible says faith in Jesus Christ and repentance are the ONLY way into the Kingdom of Heaven. (John 14:6) Make sure you get you Judgement-Ready by repenting and accepting Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:38-39)

[@rmr2471]

And your point is? 🤔

[@WordUnheard]

@@DontGoToHell "When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment." (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT) “Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women that hath known man by lying with him.” (Numbers 31:17 ) ""Blessed is the one who seizes your children and smashes them against the rock" (Psalms 137:9) "As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you." (Deuteronomy 20:10-14) That's just a drop in the ocean of disgusting, batshit crazy things the bible says. It's an ancient piece of fiction that was obviously written by man. If you're going to regurgitate the same tired "You're going to hell!" verses in your lame attempt to scare others into believing a fiction you were dumb enough to buy into, at least read the book you've built your entire persona around from cover to cover.

[@user-kv7or4nw3l]

Man I love this track I was 15 when I first heard...I still love it to this day in 2024!!!

[@thirdofaman]

Thank you for uploading.

[@vicbennett6599]

“It’s the end of the world as we know it “is still my favorite song and it’s still true today Lenny Bruce was not afraid

[@tracywilliamson4275]

@@vicbennett6599 And Michael made us sing it to close many shows. " Mountains standing in a line LEONARD BERNSTEIN! "

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

Now I know where my last staple went!

[@bobc.5698]

Stand is the one that comes to mind......that's what I heard the most on the radio.

[@Jack-2day]

Happy’ to relate I was fortunate to see them in Vancouver They played every song in concert for that moment in time for us Cheers

[@patricklipski1662]

It's on my Sirius XM play list so I probably hear it once a day ... I love this song

[@legalgal12]

Michael Stipe is brilliant.

[@EadsB7002]

agree! i could listen to him talk all day long.

[@Buddythunder1]

What an absolutely lovely interview.

[@latisaholm5700]

Crazy that I am seeing this. I was just thinking about this amazing band several days ago. Good to see them

[@lukeroberts3464]

What’s the frequency Kenneth is saved and your singing is awesome Dan.

[@jasonhaza5625]

I was in college when Monster came out...that was the only time I ever showed up at a record store for the 'midnight release' of a new album. I had WORN OUT my cassette of Automatic and couldn't wait.

[@alxra]

It's interesting to even fathom that Dan Rather and REM have a history together. For those of you too young to remember, REM was THEE face of college radio and alt rock in the early/mid 80's and became on of the biggest bands in rock for several years into the early 90's. Back then people would actually wait outside of record stores for them to open on the day a new record was released. It was SOOO important to be the first in your peer group to get that record. It's weird to think, but considering how popular REM was (2nd only to U2 at the time, maybe), you rarely hear them on rock radio, and they just don't seem to have that staying power that some other bands from that era have (Red Hot Chili Peppers).

[@robertconahan187]

I disagree. They might not be played as much now but for a while you couldn't play the radio an hour without hearing an REM song.

[@barnacles62]

It was not unheard of then, who ever thought Bing Crosby and David Bowie would have done a Christmas Carol together? I loved those times, because people said what they had to say, but still knew their place and stayed in it. This allowed for more open-minded people, or even people you wouldn't see as having common ground to still get together. I loved REM, their music was without a doubt some of the best of its era, but they were far left and when Stipes come out, he became very open and against anything he didnt agree with. I followed Mills on social media for a while, but it was the same thing, always bashing everything but liberals. It left a bad taste in my mouth, so i dont follow them as much, and, lets face it, they have no new stuff and are old.....

[@amostlyreasonableguy]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have continued to churn out musical diarrhea consistently to keep themselves in pop culture with Anthony’s rapping about state names and nonsense before a saccharine chorus. REM will be remembered as having musical integrity and walking away from the party before staying too long. And this is coming from someone who was much more into the Chili peppers for my entire youth.

[@OdawaTraveler]

U2 sucks

[@MK-xl9tt]

@@amostlyreasonableguyagreed they hit the effin lottery when they crossed paths with that flea fellow.

[@Tommyd479]

Damn keep forgetting that not only is Dan Rather still alive, but is happy and healthy.

[@fishboy91]

How do you mean? Why would you thnk that he is no longer with us? I have never heard of him suffering any great illness. Was he sick recently?

[@timothymallon]

This was awesome! And just getting to stand in front of the mic takes guts! Dan has no reason to be embarrassed!

[@gjwiley6250]

This was the first "Rock" song I heard as a young teenager and realized rock, metal, grunge, alternative, etc. music was for me.

[@davids1816]

I've never been able to wrap my head around why it is, but where the hell did artists on this level go? Are they out there? Why are they so far from mainstream? We gave up guys like this for drum machines, auto-tune and singers who sell perfume?

[@paulnejtek6588]

Of course, theyre out there. Musical talent doesn't belong to any generation. Maybe it's more or less mainstream. Might have to dig a bit

[@solitaryman777]

@@paulnejtek6588 ya dang right about every generation generating generational talent

[@richardcraig8780]

Those days and people are probably gone for good unfortunately

[@davids1816]

@@richardcraig8780 Let's hope it's something that will happen in cycles and not a linear thing. We can't be that far from AI generated pop music. It might even be made in real-time at some point. But one hopes that imperfect expressions of creativity will find a new niche.

[@rjc_2001]

Chris Stapleton for instance has writing credits to like 170 songs for many performers. He's considered country, but even those in country music sometimes dispute his fit in the genre. He's basically a modern day Seger, Fogerty, or Van Sant. The problem is, all radio is corporate owned shit now. KZbin, Pandora, and Spotify replaced it, and it's not really a bad thing for the music lover either. Rock/alternative is definitely not what was for much of the latter half of the 20th century tho.

[@MohondasK]

What’s the Frequency, Kenneth trivia: I love how they snuck the “F” word on radio. The last “the fre-quenc-y” is actually “don’t F with me.” Subtle, but once you hear it you can’t not hear it.

[@oregonziggy2391]

Dan Rather even more respect for him being an REM fan.,

[@ruthlessreid9172]

He's not that was written for him.

[@jamescarter3196]

@@ruthlessreid9172 It wasn't written "for him", it just has a phrase connected to him, but he's a fan of good music and enjoys REM. There's no reason to think otherwise. If he didn't like them he wouldn't bother to appear onstage with them. He only interviews people that he's personally interested in, on this show.

[@ruthlessreid9172]

@@jamescarter3196 great to have free speech and differences of opinion I'm sure you know either personally

[@kyletwitch9233]

So that's to say that the frequency between REM and Dan Rather is 100% Kenneth.

[@kristophstjames4143]

when liberals chat

[@dermashy]

Met Michael in 84 and 85 , top man . Still my favourite band . Love em 🙏🏻

[@dem8568]

I could listen to Stipe read the phone book. Somehow he finds a way to make the most commonplace utterance sound interesting and even beautiful. It's like impromptu poetry.

[@SuperLovedave]

I agree 100%

[@truthsRsung]

@dem8568....that may be the most disrespectful compliment anyone has given a Political Activist that uses music to convey their Message. Please go back to reading your phone book.

[@dem8568]

@@truthsRsung You managed to completely misunderstand my meaning. If you didn't know, saying you could listen to someone read the phone book is a compliment. It means they are especially good speakers, articulate and engaging. Just the sort of thing you would want from an activist who uses words as their means of activism, by the way.

[@truthsRsung]

@@dem8568 ...There is nothing exceptional about Stipe's Voice. No wonder no one understands your comments about your Music preferences. You are tone deaf. REM is worth listening to because of the content and the composition.

[@staunchx]

@@truthsRsung Might i suggest therapy?

[@user-ud7ko4cq1n]

VERY true comment by Stipe. A lot of musicians (especially composers/songwriters) get their inspiration from a visual landscape of meaning in their head, which sometimes is ambiguous enough that any attempt to represent it in a music video diminishes it. But a much larger percentage of people see virtually nothing in their head when they hear a song. And can be induced to "see more" with the help of a music video. So compromising by making videos that can induce a visual awakening to the sound, has merit.

[@vicbennett6599]

I was in Athens in the early 80s and the choice was B-52‘s or R.E.M. for the party night and rock lobster was all over the radio and we ended up going to see the B-52‘s and I always regretted that decision… I love the fact that your music has stood the test of time and the integrity involved is a model

[@JonSmith-xt1cb]

Incredible band, legendary, several times in Dallas; rem, U2, inxs, the cure, wow ❤

[@tracezachdaniels4264]

GREAT JOB ALL...THANX 4 MAKING Tee with LIONS NAMED LEO the music worldwide. LOVE YOU ALL...!!!....MUCH LOVE.!!

[@colin1487]

Michael is looking great!

[@Ernwaldo]

I kept thinking how much he’s beginning to look like Bill Murray… 🤔

[@terencemeikle534]

The Two Michaels are so smart and articulate that I could listen to them on any subject all day long. I have a lot of 'favourite' REM songs, all vying for top billing, but WTFK is probably the one I've played most often down the years: pure, kick-ass rock and roll.

[@deanallen927]

I too see little movies in my head when I listen to a song, but I still like to see on a video what it is a singer viualizes for his song.

[@CharlieTWilbury]

Well done.

[@Richard-wp6ep]

They had so many good songs

[@CETK1]

Was just thinking of REM yesterday. They were so big in the 90s. But now kids don't know who they are. Nirvana yes, but REM seemed to fade away.

[@SelectCircle]

REM started fading while they were still active.

[@jerseyjim8365]

“Can’t Get There From Here”. My favorite.

[@tracywilliamson4275]

@@jerseyjim8365 And I just said that Fables was the only album of theirs I didn't like. But I liked the song you mentioned, as well as "Old Man Kinsey". I should give it another listen.

[@lawrencewheat1290]

Very good interview. That bassline though, is what hooks me hard on that song.

[@jonteuber7643]

Best. Ever. None better.

[@raddastronaut]

Always really liked that song.

[@acrodave9287]

It's always good to know that REM remain as wilfully obscure and vague in their lyrics as they always were, infinitely applicable and open to interpretation. This could be for good or ill, as are most things.

[@privatepenguin3137]

I remember when Letterman played that soundcheck video on the Late Show...hilarious.

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

I saw REM at the Buffalo Sabres arena in NY to an absolute fanatic, sold out crowd. I was so in love then with "What's the Frequency ..." , and wanted them to open the show with it. Damm, it was the only time I ever had a wish granted. They opened with it!

[@fnjesusfreak]

I suppose back then it was the Aud?

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

@@fnjesusfreak Yes, it was the Aud

[@kercyc7926]

I just love Michael Stipe,he taught me big words and big feelings! He was my dream partner when I was in High School! Not only did I think he was so beautiful, but I felt his intelligence was so superior to the stupid jocksI I dated back then! I saw REM at many festival type shows at Shoreline and other venues in CA and they were so amazing , Having dated other musicians..I am still so envious , but happy for whoever he chose to settle down with. What a blessing to be with such a cool person! I hope he is happy in life and I hope other people also feel so touched by his presence as well ❤❤❤❤

[@HeavensProtocol]

This song's guitar sound (plus delay) made me want to play guitar. Thank you Michael.

[@MsJuliette14]

And in turn Losing My Religion had one of the most interesting and cinematic videos of all time. Replete with symbolism and allegory.

[@hirampriggott1689]

Monster was such a departure from their early sound such as Murmur, Reckoking, Fables. Those first three albums are what comes to mind when I think of R.E.M.

[@mgmcd1]

Frequency is often denoted with the Greek letter Nu (pronounced like New) and when this happened I immediately thought the person was quipping “What’s new, Kenneth?”

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

"You get the face you deserve by 40" I think was the quote, but can probably be extended to 50 now, and it holds true for Stipe.

[@evilish888]

Absolutely the most OG musician and group ever

[@spindriftdrinker]

In the early nineties I had a chat with my neighbor down the hall in New York City. Somehow the topic came up of the crazy guy who attacked Dan Rather saying "What's the frequency Kenneth?". It turns out that this guy was her ex-husband. He was in a plane crash and had a metal plate put into his head. Possibly he was getting some kind of radio waves on his embedded plate, and it was driving him crazy.

[@ub1953]

This is priceless; ironic being interviewed by the connection Dan Rather has to the title.......

[@williamneal9076]

And them NOT mentioning it!

[@random22026]

It wasn't a brown nose, it wasn't a lick boot--however, it still skirted the ISSUE involving Rather's treatment of an underling, in his news anchor days, and the repercussions that ensued. Didn't expect the praise they bestowed on Rather; it is treating human beings in a respectful way (which Rather DIDN'T do) that is the significant issue, deflected here, alas.

[@marcK599.]

Lame

[@random22026]

Pretty much@@marcK599.

[@batsonelectronics]

My 2nd favorite band only behind Chicago. I have all the cd's and play them pretty often. Was so bummed when they decided to call it quits. I was a young teen when Murmur came out and was hooked ever since. I would have thought "Stand" would have been the biggest. I hear it the most on the radio still. ( BOB FM- mostly 80's stuff )

[@thelmaviaduct]

The one and only REM song I like, it's brilliant.

[@JasonDavies-vf3kl]

Buck always gets great sound thro his amps and guitar!!🎵👍

[@mutedmutiny9542]

Fun fact but one of the people they worked with on their early music videos was Alton Brown of Good Eats fame. He was the DP on “the one I love”

[@davidbull7210]

Michael Stipe and Mike Mills - two slippers by the fire, drinking hot milk with nutmeg...rock and fucking roll.

[@PyroJoe1]

I respect rem so much more now.

[@youKnowWho3311]

Rather didn't know the frequency. As it turns out, art indeed imitates life.

[@vanessapeterson2795]

“what’s the frequency Kenneth” is a standing text between me and my oldest daughter- meaning what’s up with you & what are we going to be getting into- love this song♥️

[@Dreyno]

Kenneth is………an…….an unusual name for a girl 😐

[@vanessapeterson2795]

@@Dreyno it’s not her name - she gets it- knows what I’m implying

[@Dreyno]

@@vanessapeterson2795 I know it’s not 😂 Just pulling your leg 👍

[@user-os3mh7vq4x]

“What’s your frequency, Kenneth?” Was the song that was playing in the background when I first kissed the woman who became my wife. We have been together for 30 years. The days are long, the years are short.

[@poppybell8217]

❤❤❤❤

[@GoodMrDawes]

One of the Super Groups

[@IanSane]

Stipe's comments about music videos reminds me of my brother. He has synesthesia so he sees colours with sound. He finds that bands tend to have certain colours that frequently appear in their music, most likely due to their trademark sound. He rarely shares that info so I don't know what typical colours R.E.M. has. But he hates to watch music videos because it affects what he visualizes in his head when he hears the song and prefers to see it unaltered.

[@TheJpec361]

I saw REM when they were ready to break out opening for The Police on their Synchronicity tour. They were bombarded with boos the whole time they played...

[@gregoryhainsworth2663]

That was sad.REM>Police

[@yiannisclerides9782]

Michael Stipe is the best frontman ever - even Bono said i m second to him (this happened in the the 90's )- sad they broke up -

[@SARCASTICLES]

REM....(Gerald Duncan's) The Accelerators.......The X-Teens.......Let's Active.....Arrogance......The Pressure Boys......Don Dixon.......Mitch Easter....The Brewery....Rhythm Alley........Cat's Cradle....The Bear's Den.......The Pier......anybody got a time machine?

[@tiediegymnasts920]

Dan rather rock's when he's at home at full volume

[@nomenetasaili8598]

This song with Collective Souls Shine and Live Lighting Crashes where the stand out songs for me in 1994. Still stand that test of time.

[@rachaelghostcat8584]

I would love to hear Michael stipe sing Duran Duran's Save A Prayer or Come undone! It would be great!

[@ColtraneTaylor]

The REM fans and critics hated Duran Duran. And I hated the REM fanboy critics.

[@deanheylen]

Monster, along with The Cranberries "No Need to Argue" are the two best albums of 1994 and possibly of all time too.

[@eveningandrewgunko7343]

Yeah, iconic song, somehow

[@KOSMICKEN09]

My name is Ken and I Love that song

[@Riffmaster227]

So what’s the frequency?

[@williamneal9076]

88.1

[@poppybell8217]

Wait, back up! Someone needs to explain to the audience at the beginning of this clip that Dan rather was attacked by a man who said to him “Kenneth, what’s the frequency” !

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

Mike Mills inhis Hayao Miyazaki phase

[@arlenegreenbaum2110]

Love losing my religion

[@amherst88]

No one mentioned the backstory though, there's a reason why Mr. Rather sang that song at the soundcheck and why he asked that question.

[@Ernwaldo]

Exactly! I know the story, but kept waiting for them to relate it, or give any new perspective or info. Sigh…

[@williamneal9076]

Nothing. Classy. Guess because it's too obvious.

[@Cureboy1]

Anyone noticed the similarity between the riff on this song and Blue Flower by Mazzy Star (released a year or two prior?)

[@frankphillips7436]

Interesting Dan didn’t want to ask about his role in Ignorland!

[@mtae5]

Billy Corgan! I love the pumpkins.

[@ziggypop79]

Stipe is very clever

[@palyddon]

Not nuts about the septum ring, tbh, but Michael Stipe sure seems to have mellowed out over the years.

[@Endoe.McKronic]

I never knew they were from the 1980's!! WOW!

[@TerribleEnglish]

😅 Yeah, they became huge in the early 90s, but there was an EP and 6 albums before that. Check out a video called "R.E.M. 1989 'Talk about the passion'" - it calls them the biggest guitar band of the eighties, ha ha.

[@steelyd2]

You can find videos of them doing “Wolves/Lower” from like 1980-81. It’s amazing people don’t realize how far they go back. They had put out like 4-5 records by the time they had minor hits with “one I love” and “end of the world as we know it”

[@TerribleEnglish]

@@steelyd2 Actually I think it's the band's fault. I became a big fan in the 90s which was when they became really huge, but on the two tours they did, for 'Monster' and 'Up', they really didn't perform many older songs at all, so I think a whole generation of fans just didn't know about or ignored the early stuff, thinking it mustn't be any good

[@Ernwaldo]

One of the many successful bands out of Athens, GA in the 70s & 80s.

[@TerribleEnglish]

@@Ernwaldo Not the 70s surely.

[@DrRussPhd]

Gordie Downie and Michael Stipe started to look like brothers as they aged. I wonder if they ever crossed paths.

[@albesk]

I miss REM so much...

[@arlenegreenbaum2110]

Hi

[@gregoaks4413]

Find the River

[@justmadeit2]

A new REM record, could it be possible?

[@scott7521]

When I was younger I was annoyed by REM because I thought Michael Stipe was pretentious but I really appreciate them as an adult. Never need to hear Losing My Religion ever again though.

[@WhiteyMcCracker]

I remember how much everyone hated Monster. You could find used cds of it in any record store for a couple bucks.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

I remember how much I hated REM for being around 24/7/365.

[@eperot]

I can’t imagine why you’d waste your time watching a video on a band you hate then, but there’s some weird people out there. Personally REM is my favorite band of all time.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@eperot Stipe is a weird person.

[@solitaryman777]

@@ColtraneTaylor ya have to respect someone who owns their weirdness

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@solitaryman777 In his case weird = untalented.

[@keppela1]

How do they not mention Dan Rather's attack as the origin of the song?

[@mtadams2009]

I think being frustrated with your life must be a rich persons thing. I was always just trying to keep a roof over my head. What’s the meaning of life, get to work.

[@JRAFF145]

Did the guy who said it to Dan Rather get it from the song, or did they write the song after that incident?

[@Kingfisher1215]

Back when Athens Georgia was producing a lot of bands.

[@catpocalypsenow8090]

safe and effective

[@tristyevely3798]

My favorite REM song is Shiny Happy People.

[@timoverington5177]

Night swimming from automatic for the people is the one for me.

[@josiehoyle9314]

Country feedback for me ❤

[@josiehoyle9314]

Oh yes, and night swimming❤