Michael Shannon Is 'Not a Fan' of Actors Having Rock Bands, But Calls His R.E.M. Cover Band 'Glorified Karaoke'

• Michael Shannon has been touring with Jason Narducy performing R.E.M. albums in full
• The star said he's typically "not a fan" of actors having rock bands
• He described his performances of R.E.M.’s music as "glorified karaoke"

R.E.M. may have disbanded in 2011, but their music has never been more alive — thanks in big part to Michael Shannon.

The Oscar-nominated actor, 50, has taken his fandom for the rock band to new heights in recent years, touring some of their biggest albums in full with Jason Narducy and even singing the band’s 1985 single “Driver 8” on The Tonight Show in January.

In a new interview with The Bitter Southerner, Shannon opened up about his love for R.E.M. and performing their songs — even if he’s not a fan of actors moonlighting as musicians.

“I kind of walked away from [songwriting]. Because, if nothing else, it just seems kind of greedy,” said Shannon, who previously fronted the indie rock trio Corporal. “It’s like, how much good fortune can one person expect to have in their life? I’m not a fan of actors having rock and roll bands.”

Still, he described his performances of R.E.M.’s music as “glorified karaoke.”

“Karaoke is, you know, on the one hand kind of an embarrassing ridiculous thing. But on the other hand, it’s an extraordinarily beautiful, moving thing that allows anybody, literally anybody, to go up on stage and sing a song that they love and sing it with as much passion or however the hell they want to sing it,” he explained.

The Nocturnal Animals star’s first R.E.M. moment came in July 2023, when he and Narducy celebrated the 40th anniversary of the band’s debut album Murmur by playing it in full in Chicago with some help from bassist Mike Mills.

The show was a hit, and the pair even went on a brief tour. Earlier this year, they did it again, only this time, they played the album Fables of the Reconstruction. Shannon and Narducy performed more than a dozen dates across North America in February and March, and are set to continue touring in the United Kingdom in August.

Earlier this month, they decided the third time’s the charm, and announced plans to do it once more next year for the 40th anniversary of the album Life Rich Pageant.

“I don't aspire to be in a cover band, this is just so damn fun,” Narducy told SPIN. “It also doesn’t feel like a cover band. It’s more like a celebration band.”

R.E.M. released 15 albums between 1980 and 2011, the year they announced their amicable breakup. Since then, they’ve played together just once, at their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in 2024.

Stipe has said that the band "will never reunite."

Shannon told the Southerner that he and lead singer Michael Stipe had lunch together before Shannon’s performance in the band’s hometown of Athens, Ga., and they wound up going on a walk, with Stipe, 65, pointing out important places in band history.

“I’m not trying to put across any particular persona,” he said. “I’m not attempting to be a rock star. I’m not attempting to be Michael Stipe. I’m just singing a song that I love. I’m singing a song that I love to the best of my capabilities. And that’s all I’m doing.”