01/09/2018
Michael Stipe has a new book of art photography out, called simply “Volume 1”. Stipe was the frontman for a band called REM, who started out in the early eighties on US alternative music circuit. From their fanbase on American college radio stations, they built up a cult International following which exploded in the early nineties to propel them to chart stardom. The band finished touring six years ago and called it a day. Stipe was always an enigmatic figure, evading questions about his sexuality. However, he always supported LGBT and HIV causes, and came out as queer in 2001. He elaborated on his identity in an 2004 issue of the Dutch gay men's magazine Butt. Talking to BBC2's Newsnight programme earlier this month, Stipe said that he was delighted that a younger generation of people defined themselves in much more non-binary terms than either gay or straight, and noted that he also supported transgender liberation.
http://www.buttmagazine.com/magazine/interviews/michael-stipe/
https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvana-130-1292553
