Since the band has split, R.E.M. can’t promote their latest release – Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011 – with any sort of performance. Instead, Michael Stipe has been making the late night rounds. Last week, he partied with Stephen Colbert and Brian Eno, singing some Bill Withers. Last night, the fiesta-of-sorts continued on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where Stipe and Fallon discussed the new collection, looking back on previous songs, and the origin of the breakup. ”The three of us arrived at it, kind of organically,” Stipe added. “When we were on tour in 2008, it kind of became an option.” Interestingly enough, the former frontman points out that the cover of this year’s Collapse Into Now hinted at the break up: “I’m waving good bye on the cover. Nobody got that.”
As if that weren’t enough, Stipe joined Fallon, Martin Short, and The Muppets’ own Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy for a little game of Password. Just wait for the “yoga” moment. Pretty incredible. Sigh, we’ve asked it once and we’ll ask it again, “Why hasn’t J-Fal won an Emmy yet?” Seriously. Check out the clips below (via The Audio Perv), and then let yourself fall into that much-deserved R.E.M. kick.
Interview:
Password w/ Martin Short & The Muppets:
Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011 is currently available everywhere.
