Michael Stipe born 4 January 1960John Michael Stipe is the lead singer of the American rock band R.E.M. Stipe has become well-known (and occasionally parodied) for the 'mumbling' style of his early career and for his complex, surreal lyrics, as well as his social and political activism. Stipe and the other members of R.E.M. are known as pioneers of alternative rock and are credited with having inspired many of the acts that went on to make up the 1990s' alternative music scene.
R.E.M. have released a series of critically acclaimed albums with a wide variety of mainstream success. A few hit singles and growing visibility as a social activist eventually made Stipe a star and also earned him a devoted fanbase.
In a 2001 Newsweek interview Stipe described himself as a 'queer artist'. In previous interviews he has described himself as 'an equal opportunity lech' and said he doesn't define himself as gay, straight or bisexual, but that he was 'just sexual' and was attracted to and had relationships with both men and women.
In an interview in March 2008 Stipe told Spin magazine that he now felt more comfortable with his sexuality and that he had been in a relationship with 'an amazing man' for about three years. Adding that, 'Now I recognise that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.'