Mike Mills, the bassist of R.E.M., has shared his thoughts on the ongoing tours by actor Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy, who have been celebrating R.E.M.’s music since 2023. Mills took to Instagram to express how these shows have given him a new perspective on his own band.
He mentioned that, ironically, he has never been able to see R.E.M. perform live, making it hard for him to understand the impact their music has had on fans. Thanks to Shannon and Narducy, he feels he has finally gotten a glimpse of what it was like to experience an R.E.M. concert. Mills said, “This band not only reinforced what I thought we sounded like, but gave me an idea of the power and joy of an R.E.M. show.”
Mills praised Shannon and Narducy as “seriously talented musicians” who truly love R.E.M.’s music. He emphasized that they are not just imitators but a real band that brings their passion to every performance. Mills has even joined them on stage, calling it one of the most fun experiences he’s had in a long time.
Their latest tour celebrated the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s fourth studio album, *Lifes Rich Pageant*. They are set to kick off another leg of the tour in September. Mills concluded by thanking Shannon and Narducy for keeping the spirit of R.E.M.’s music alive for both the band and their fans.
