Michael Stipe performs R.E.M. classic, ‘Wendell Gee’, for first time in 39 years at Democratic rally

Posted On October 12, 2024October 12, 2024

At a Democratic Party rally in Athens, Georgia, on October 10th, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe performed ‘Wendell Gee’ for the first time in 39 years.

The track appeared on R.E.M.’s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction, released in 1985. Despite the song occupying a status as a fan favourite among R.E.M.’s army of fans, they only performed it during concerts on 15 occasions which all came in either 1984 or 1985.

Although Stipe was the primary lyricist for the group, the composition was largely written by his bandmate, Mike Mills. The inspiration behind ‘Wendell Gee’ was a local used car salesman in Athens who Mills once knew.

Due to the song’s connections to Athens, where the rally took place, it was a natural choice to appear in Stipe’s set on October 10th. During the short performance, he also played his solo song, ‘Your Capricious Soul’, his Big Red Machine collaboration, ‘No Time For Love Like Now’, before concluding with R.E.M.’s ‘Driver 8’.

Throughout the election campaign, Stipe has been a prominent voice and used his platform to support the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris ahead of November 5th. The event in Athens was held by Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff.

Furthermore, on October 4th, Stipe performed at the ‘Get Out The Vote’ at Schenley Plaza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was an event in support of Harris.

In conversation with Emhoff in Pittsburgh, Stipe also detailed his reasoning for supporting Harris in the presidential campaign. He stated: “There’s the comparison that has been made that voting for a politician is like taking a bus. You get on the bus that takes you closest to where you want to go. When you get off that bus, that’s when you have to start working. You have to do the walking.”

Stipe told Emhoff: “We’re a big country with a lot of weight and a lot of power. And we need it to go right and your wife can guide it in the right direction. There’s a lot to work on, there’s a lot to do, but I have a lot of faith in her.”

Although Stipe has largely been out of the public eye in recent years, the singer previously raised his head above the parapet in 2020 when Donald Trump was seeking re-election to The White House.

During an appearance on Late Night wit Seth Meyers, he shared: “So he started as a failed Midtown real estate developer, then became a successful reality TV star… and now we get this bloviating, puff-adder sack of lies. What next?”

Musicians supporting Kamala Harris

Bruce Springsteen recently took to Instagram to support Harris’ campaign. He described the upcoming vote as “one of the most consequential elections in our nation’s history” and backed the Democrats to unite America.

Springsteen said: “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are committed to a vision of this country that respects and includes everyone, regardless of class, religion, race, your political point of view or sexual identity, and they want to grow our economy in a way that benefits all, not just the few, like me, on top.”

‘The Boss’ also called Trump the “most dangerous” presidential candidate of his lifetime. “He doesn’t understand the meaning of this country,” Springsteen declared, “its history, or what it means to be deeply American.”

Other significant names to have shown support to Harris include Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Foo Fighters, Joan Baez, Stevie Nicks, Ariana Grande, Carole King, and Linda Ronstadt.

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