R.E.M. - Monster Talk with Michael Stipe & Mike Mills, plus hosts Adam Scott & Scott Aukerman

[@matmalko]

This is the most revealing REM interview I have ever heard. Love it. What a difference it makes when genuine fans ask the questions.

[@julianbrayan2691]

InstaBlaster...

[@NotPaulAvery]

Fantastic to see these two legends speak about REM. Mike and Michael were cool, too

[@joelybgood]

I love this band so much. They've helped me through so many many hard times and continue to do so. If I ever met Michael Stipe, I'd completely break down and cry because his lyrics have healed me through loss and depression. I don't think I could ever repay them for all that they've done. Thank you so much for airing this interview. They will always mean the world to me.

[@mrbbqcraig]

Truly inspirational for sure 🤘

[@linjm10]

They are my everything

[@void0094]

Same man. I hope I get to meet one of them in the future, it would be very emotional for me for sure.

[@robertolesen5782]

I’m old and I went though it all, from the Stones to Jefferson Airplane and Frisco bands to the Alman Bros, Skynyrd, Nirvana and then this. Monster was the one REM album I actually bought but I dug it all and can’t say enough how taken with their music I was and still am. Genius

[@analiaplanas5094]

Due to their music, I was able to endure all the epilepsy crisis I suffrered when I was a child

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

🫂

[@michaelspringer8734]

"We had a rule... if it sounds like R.E.M., It's out." I think that's such a great approach to have when creating art, and might be the most succinct reason why they've remained my favorite band for three decades now.

[@1148-w1d]

Monster is one of the few albums from ANY artist that is perfect from start to finish. No skips needed.

[@dougdougw]

Love the seriously attentive expression on Adam's face.

[@leanlute7507]

When I heard Kenneth on the radio I asked "Are these the same of Losing My Religion?" It was the first day a felt in love with R.E.M. and I still do. I was fourteen, now I am fourty. I aged, this record not. From Argentina, God bless u.

[@jkbenedict]

REM may never read this, but I lived on their music. In the 2000s while working in Athens, I bumped into Michael. As a musician, I kept my cool and just said "Mr. Stipe, thank you and the band for everything you have done." It was summer and he was in a sweater and said "Oh, um you are welcome and thank you." So cool, so calm and that was it. I got to thank my biggest influences without interrupting his life in Athens.

[@sabres6481]

When did you first hear of R.E.M.?

[@berlino7348]

1990

[@stipegal]

I was born in 1987 and my parents were already R.E.M. fans so I was born into it. They've always been one of my favorite bands(because I can't choose one favorite of anything)

[@brianmiller1077]

during Fables - probably Feeling Gravity's Pull or Can't Get There from Here.

[@tiernanmccarthy]

Their cornflake song, or what I called Imitation of Life as a kid. Clearly my dad liked cornflakes so that's what the song had to be called. Children are dumb lol.

[@pts5217]

That would’ve been a hilarious question to ask and Micheal and Mike...

[@MrCheesebob92]

Shame they never asked How Does It Feel To Be In R.E.M.?

[@SamBrev]

Feels good!

[@TheHager1]

@@SamBrev So good!

[@user-buser1970]

R.E.M - Rapid Eyes Movement!!! 😜😛😁 Super-puper!!! Hi! From Russia!!!

[@Jiv_Ing57819]

Low...

[@Jiv_Ing57819]

@@user-buser1970 Get the f out of Russia [:] 0

[@kjames460]

This is the greatest M Stipe interview I’ve ever heard. So much insight. Thank you!

[@thehoodcollective2887]

God, I miss R.E.M.

[@ApocalypseSometime]

Good ep

[@johnholder6571]

ApocalypseSometime Great ep

[@dedoubecool]

@@johnholder6571 C+

[@johnholder6571]

Louella.y no ma’am

[@michaeldunn8351]

I hope they're given t-shirts.

[@MyNewDanishLife]

I honestly daydream every day that they’ll tour again. They seriously live in my soul! 🙏

[@kilgoretrout321]

Hey Bill is doing music again so maybe, once Michael and Mike do their solo albums, and Peter comes back from his neverending tours and records...maybe they'd try a little EP or something? Obviously a record is too much to ask. A tour, too. A concert, tho, in Adam Scott's backyard wouldnt be too crazy

[@void0094]

@@kilgoretrout321 Michael Stipe recently said people should give up hoping they will come back together.

[@Fatherjohn76]

Love REM. Love Scott and Scott. LOVE this interview. Great ep guys

[@Interneta]

I have a copy of REVEAL: THE STORY OF R.E.M. by Johnny Black here. On page 205: "'We broke up' says Stipe 'We reached the point where none of us could speak to each other, and we were in a small room, and we just said 'Fuck off' and that was it. We were crazy, making the record. Our eyes were like kaleidoscope whirly things. All of us were nuts." No footnote so who knows if it was directly to Black or elsewhere, but that would seem to be the/a source for that quote. But I would never deny someone like Michael Stipe a chance to revise or contradict themselves, so who knows! Great interview, great album.

[@mnchls]

I honestly hope one of the Scotts refers to the album as The Scary One at least once.

[@pearljammies]

unitedstases I need them to have asked how it feels to be in R.E.M.

[@ApocalypseSometime]

Jessica I imagine it feels good

[@mnchls]

fuckin stoked

[@Javmon9]

And we need to know if there will be a backyard concert!

[@MissKitty23]

Best band in the world! Love you R.E.M.

[@thesamklick]

I hope they cover band member names

[@shanedingz]

Great interview. As an 80s/90s kid, R.E.M. were always on my radar. I liked the songs I knew, but never indulged. Currently in a deep dive of their catalogue, I’ve found I love them. Very grateful to have their songs, new to me, at this time in my life.

[@mrbbqcraig]

Holy sheeet ❗❗ that very lucky audience to watch those awesome legends live 😋 Wouldn't our world be such a harmonious place if all the leaders off the world were like Mike and Michael .... cheers to you 👍

[@Javmon9]

The vodcast we've all been waiting for is finally here!

[@renapeppers20]

Adam being the host is just so funny when i remember the parks and rec scene lmaoo

[@saykaty]

I've just realised that Mike Mills kinda looks like Andy Daly dressed up as a character

[@paul--b]

And he sounds like Howard Stern

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

Oh my God this is holiness!! 👏

[@jaywallcreeper]

Wow, so nice and comforting to see them after so many years since the last album... they were my favourite band when I was in high school. Countless beautiful nights, walks and a lot of hiking trails with R.E.M. :)))

[@stipegal]

I hope they do the same thing 2 years from now with the album New Adventures in Hi-Fi.

[@deathkampdrone]

Yes, please! R.E.M.'s best 90's album!! :D

[@stipegal]

@@Mathieu_Plasse if I was forced to choose a favorite album it would be New Adventures in Hi-Fi.

[@TheJarvis91]

@@Mathieu_Plasse It was by the track by rack Radio X interview. Was also interesting, every R.E.M. Song started with the melody and then the lyrics. Except E-Bow The Letter. It started with a letter how Michael mentioned.

[@SuperSeaRocket]

My first big concert that I ever went to was in Dearborn, Michigan when they were touring for this album. My college buddy got me a ticket for my 19th birthday. I saw them again in Ann Arbor on a later tour date after Bill's recovery from an aneurysm in Switzerland, and remember the sweetness of seeing a fan throw flowers on the stage, and watching Michael hand a flower to Bill when they were playing Everybody Hurts. Unless I got it all wrong and my memory is fuzzy because the people next to us were crouched down getting stoned as %$#@ throughout the entirety of the concert.

[@Tony-lv8uh]

Loved this band since Murmur. Listened and watched a lot about them but this is definitely the most insightful interview to date.

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

Gotta be my favorite band of all time since first hearing "Radio Free Europe" on the radio while at the Presidio of Monterey and buying "Murmur" on cassette, buying just about every lp at least maybe 2 years after their release. When our band recorded the rhythm tracks last year for the only three songs we've recorded I was very excited that just the rhythm tracks sounded a lot like R.E.M. We added keys and piano and strings and vocals and lead guitar so they don't sound that way anymore. But I was glad that initially they did. A huge influence on my writing -- lyrics and music.

[@VanHellsing12]

Goo fer you

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

@@VanHellsing12 Lyrics probably inspired by Michael Stipe: from Why Chromosomes' "It Doesn't Click" -- "It's another night...and I'm trying to sleep...but is that you keeping me awake? I'm deafened by...the subtlety...of all the noise that you don't make. And when I've finally had enough....well then I'll kick the covers off...what the hell I'll shiver anyway! I'm no longer headed for the goal..I'm in a spin out of control. I'll end up smashing all my hopes and schemes. I wish that you were here today..so that you could hear me say...what I can only tell you in my dreams."

[@PAULBOGGIE]

Greatest band of all time😎

[@lisahartley3559]

I'm so grateful I got to see R.E.M. many times and meet Michael at the Hello! book signing and Peter in Dublin. Many great memories of a joyful noise. I miss them too 😢😢😢

[@himynameismrpink]

This is perfect timing I’ve been on a CBB kick and a r.e.m kick the past week

[@marymerttha9732]

I formed a punk rock band after hearing Monster in 1994

[@void0094]

Amazing. R.E.M. influences me a lot too.

[@Megarobotsquadron]

Great interview. Speaking of non-binary terms, I'll never forget hearing Stipe refer to himself as an "equal opportunity letch" in that Details interview. He also used the phrase, "Labels are for cans of tuna" which I have repeated ever since.

[@greenatom]

At 41:00 Mike Mills talks about the effect of the bright lights on the old video cameras. I always noticed that too, found it to be very interesting visually. Cool to hear that somebody else thinks like that!

[@SBTCP]

On 0:00-59:19 that is the best monster talk ever for my opinion would definitely would say.

[@AudioRumble]

Michael Stipe’s discussion of INXS frontman Michael Hutchens and his influence as a performer and songwriter begins at 17:35 in the video.

[@kilgoretrout321]

I worried that Michael wouldn't like Adam Scott Aukerman's schtick but they came out more serious and respectful, and they really asked some great questions, too! Not the same, kind of, jabby music journalism questions that perpetuate stupid myths. More from the standpoint of fans or of buddies so that was cool. And Bill is writing again???! Holy cow I want to hear that, that sounds awesome

[@SaintMartins]

It's sad that Peter Buck & Bill Berry never participate in any of the interviews during these album re-issues over the last few years. I like to hear their stories too.

[@firekind1980]

Bill left 20 years ago which is pretty disturbing.

[@kilgoretrout321]

Peter did an interview and on stage performance with these guys a few months ago. He's also constantly making records and touring with different groups

@@firekind1980 Disturbing......................?

[@firekind1980]

@eric Dubwaaa In 1995 Bill suffered an aneurism during their Monster tour. I imagine that made him reconsider his future. Thankfully he's alive and doing what he wants to do.

[@void0094]

@@firekind1980 Mike said that Bill hated the touring

[@crowdofone222]

I got to say, as much as i wish they were still making new music it is great and fun watching them make their rounds with these interviews. Its fun hearing what went on behind the curtain. I hope they do it for future 25th editions. Thanks guys!

[@ferda9476]

Wait...is this an episode of "Monster Talk"???

[@thewheelies6801]

Fantastic interview. Thanks, guys.

[@brookebrownwv]

Well done, Scotts. C+

[@Phat59-n4i]

Love..love..love..love

[@federicomilutinovic5761]

I want at least one ep of I love films

[@mariaaureliasantillan2893]

Michael Stipe te amo! ❤

[@catloveme3206]

Stipe sounds so proud of river lol glad that he starts to talking about river publicly now

[@deadletteroffice-atributet3261]

F*#%’in stoked!

[@TypoDiabetes]

23:11 is this an episode of 'I Love Films'?

[@softdorothy]

"It was news to me. Just kidding." "I wasn't going to challenge you on it."

[@DavidH1]

I didn't even know this was a thing. Are you really talking R.E.M., with R.E.M., to me?!? Awesome.

[@hartjh14]

I bought the Vinyl version of the re-release...now I see I have to buy the CD/Blu-ray version as well as it has the first R.E.M. concert I attended. I knew who R.E.M. was before this album, but this is the album that I finally "got" R.E.M. I was able to go back and learn to appreciate the older stuff, but this is the one that spoke to me.

[@TheJarvis91]

14:07 - 14:38 Mike Mills is so right. Or in other words: "This is Peter. This is Mike. I am Michael. We are R.E.M. and this is what we do."

[@RLow67]

Now this is good rock n roll uh... music!

[@TheHager1]

with Michael Stipend and Mike Miller

[@woodyreed2882]

I know quite a few people who were introduced to REM via Monster... I'm always amazed when they tell me they aren't familiar with the rest of their older catalog. A little envious as well because they get to experience the older LPs for the first time...

[@krisfrederick5001]

I wish he and Kurt would have collaborated. Would have been amazing.

[@void0094]

I think they wanted Greg Sage to produce it since Greg has stated that Kurt wanted to do an acoustic album covering old blues songs. I think Michael would've been on it too.

[@phototristan]

Butterfly decal, rear-view mirror, dogging the scene.

[@gfunkmedia]

Dang! It's 1030am in Oz... I've got 2hrs till I finish work... Can't wait to watch. #rem #remhq #monster25

[@Phat59-n4i]

No-one like you Michael ❤

[@ettydickinson5507]

This was such a find. So much explained. So Mike didn’t like Lotus and wants Michael to cover it now? Me too! Undertow gave JMS his hernia, wow. This interview (2019) is a treasure. Thanks so much.

[@TheLameEskimo]

Is this an episode of talkin' bout youtube?

[@TheHager1]

re: me?

[@kilgoretrout321]

I miss the little ads and eps. When Michael mentioned a movie I was expecting "Is this an episode of 'I Love Films'?"

[@anamariaestanislaafernande3892]

Michael Stipe..un gran genio!!..excelente grupo REM..gran trayectoria y talento.👏🇪🇬

[@Phat59-n4i]

My favourite ❤❤❤ This band ❤❤❤

[@DrMaiXiang]

Hey look it's Mike Myers and Michael Stipand!

[@xCDUBSx]

OMG I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING

[@no_one_of_that_name_here]

I want those barbecue plans!

[@andrewpage6029]

A very insightful interview. C+!!

[@adrenalinejunkie4788]

This is absolutely fantastic.

[@seanezekielsmith]

you poppin my stones?

[@ShogunZIlla]

I like the talk about the setlists

[@balkyreek]

17:42 Wait a minute... is this an episode of U Talkin U2 To Me?

[@youdesklamp]

I think it is...

[@werideatdusk]

*Correction: Scott Litt produced six albums for REM: Document, Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Monster, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.

[@hutchu1]

My bucket list dance with Michael Stipe‘s and asked Michael stipes if he believes there’s a man on the moon...

[@frankmarsh1159]

It's hard to believe Stipe didn't hear a similarity in Everybody Hurts and Strange Currencies. They have a similar guitar arpeggio. Lots of songwriters will write batches of songs around similar structures they may be working on. Finest Worksong and Turn You Inside Out have a similar guitar drone. Pretty Persuasion, Talk About the Passion and Driver 8 all have an opening guitar riff that returns in the middle of the song. So does Lotus which came later. If you to listen to the Beatles albums you can hear lots of similar song structures in batches as they moved though their career. You can hear this in a lot of band's album catalogs and especially with R.E.M.'s albums.

[@PoochieVince]

I love strange currencies but it sounds like Everybody Hurts and the lyrics remind me of the themes of Losing My Religion.

[@lindseeziegler90]

1 of my favorite albums& Brings back memories- amazing band , I miss them.

[@johnholder6571]

But will they ever get the t-shirts?

[@csabadobos322]

monster was the first rock and roll record i bought as a teenager

[@acercade439]

Ya lo anhelo. Es increíble verlos juntos otra vez cantando

[@CphLink]

Favourite Scotts and favourite Mikes

[@MickeyLeeBukowski]

Nice to hear the Circus Envy love. That's my favorite too :)

[@travstar5447]

Michael Stipe talking about the Mighty Michael Hutchence is very very very cool..... The Hutch was the Man!!....absolute Titan of a performer.

[@logankeystone1616]

🍁🍀🌵🌵❤🤗😍🏵💮🌸🌹🦄🌴🌳🌲🌱✨🎇🎆☘🍃❤❤❤❤❤great interview thank you

[@psychobillychef]

This is very special ❤❤❤

[@gfunkmedia]

Fuck Yeah! I wish i had a cool hernia story..I was born with mine. lol. I was also one who (when listening to 'All the best') thought..NOOOO!! This is it)! I love getting anything fresh from my heroes. Thank you #rem

[@woodyreed2882]

Aww... I love the album cover for Reckoning... and Chronic Town... and Murmur...

[@matthew4694]

I love the cover and packaging of “Lifes Rich Pageant”. I’m still not comfortable with the missing apostrophe.

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

Watching this again! lol Like what Mike said about "Automatic part two...". Kind of reminded me of an interview with Wire after a show in Germany and a comment about fans shouting out requests and the interviewer said they were rude and one of them said something like, "I wasn't being rude. We don't do requests. We're not a jukebox." lol Then again maybe they are a "Rebellious Jukebox" ;-)

[@user-buser1970]

Rapid eyes movement!!! Super! 😁😁😁

[@Picnicl]

An absolutely genius album, so brilliantly darkly enclosed a feel with all these different character studies and a rocking record at the same time. New Adventures continues the spirit of Monster in some respects e.g. The Wake-up Bomb, Be Mine, Binky the Doormat, except more on the road as per their Monster tour. Strange Currencies' time signature being the same as Everybody Hurts always seemed to me like a complex in-joke turned serious that the band might be having (just like 'Be Mine' is New Adventures is a lyric that's in Strange Currencies), which works in the context of Monster playing mind tricks with its characters and, in a way, with some new fans of R.E.M. The character in Strange Currencies is someone who is feeling hurt - 'everybody hurts' but they could turn this passion in to something a little too strong for the object of their affection. Monster is about specific characters and the fact it's specific makes it more urgently matter. Michael and Mike - such gentlemen with humour whose adventurousness, sincerity, deliberate insincerity, intellect, heart, and, certainly on Monster, sheer sexy music in R.E.M. with Peter and Bill is a rarer combination that it perhaps should be.

[@tommeredith7462]

Mike Mill’s is impressive in my book, I was not an immediate fan of REM. I liked a few songs but never followed them. It’s always me looking back years later when I finally learn what all of the fuss is. From Led Zeppelin to Aerosmith. Mike Mills is one of the band members who stand’s out in my book. As a young performer he had the nerd look as all young men do as we all are pup’s during our young lives. Mike is very intelligent. He speaks his mind very effectively. He’s articulate, self assured. He obviously cares deeply for each of his band mates. He is probably the most musically gifted of all the band but Bill Berry is a close second. They say he’s the background or back up singer in REM but he really is the second lead singer.

[@Nevets1073]

I saw the on the Monster Tour and it was fantastic.

[@GOFFMEISTER]

Me too at Cardiff Arms Park,great times

[@michae13james10]

Michael stipe says swagger more times than I’ve had hot dinners

[@TheAlfakitty]

He recorded This is Not America at Rainbow Records in Berkeley. My neighbor was the studio drummer.

[@jkbenedict]

Circus Envy was my favourite cut off that EP.

[@silkywellman315]

Lotus is an amazing song!

[@dan1986ist]

Why is a whole a bunch of videos on this channel with R.E.M.'s own music blocked on copyright grounds by UMG?

[@kilgoretrout321]

Just to frustrate you

[@richalderson6069]

Despite all the talk about gender non-binary and stuff I'm glad Michael still presents himself as what he is: an attractive man.

[@lateralus207003]

He kept saying Michael Oliveri. Did he mean Michael Imperioli?