Michael Stipe and producer Andrew Watt took the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night to perform “I Played the Fool,” the theme song for Steve Carell’s HBO series, The Rooster. They were joined by some notable musicians, including Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums and former Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on piano. Klinghoffer played on the original recording of the song, while blink-182’s Travis Barker was on drums for that version. Stipe and Watt released “I Played the Fool” in March to coincide with the premiere of The Rooster.
In an April appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Stipe mentioned that his long-awaited debut solo album is set to come out later this year, though it’s unclear if “I Played the Fool” will be included.
In other R.E.M. news, Peter Buck’s band, Drink the Sea, has announced a new U.S. tour. The tour kicks off on August 30 in Vashon Island, Washington, and wraps up on September 24 in Kirkland, Washington. This tour supports their upcoming album, which is scheduled for release on October 2.
