More on celebrating Michael Stipe turning 60, I’ve decided to tell a story and no it’s not about this painting I did of him and myself which sits on my dresser to this day. Growing up in the south, there’s not many bands with progressive messages or something emotionally gravitating yet still the coolest rock sound. My Dad playing R.E.M. and Tom Petty were to two early influences and only southern rock bands I identified with. A friend of mine said there’s something about music made by people who know where you come from. It’s like anytime I hear music by bands from Chicago, I relate and totally get it too as my roots are there. So, listening to R.E.M. and Tom Petty were the same thing, they got me because we lived in the south. As R.E.M. became more political, they merged in with my love of Rage Against the Machine, they were all fighting for the same things, but with different ways of using their words and music to express it. It’s like having to two to speak to two parts of your heart and have the ability to speak to people of different crowds. Anyway, Happy Birthday again, Michael! . . #happybirthday #michaelstipe #rem @rem #southernband #athensga #painting #contemporaryart #popart #portrait https://www.instagram.com/p/B66IJ_aFdCa/?igshid=l7ak61tj0f4e
