Michael Stipe, the frontman of R.E.M., premiered a new song called “The Rest of Ever” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on April 23, 2026. This track is part of his upcoming debut solo album, which he has been teasing since 2022. Stipe performed the song with the help of the Colbert house band, Louis Cato and The Great Big Joy Machine.
During the show, Stipe shared that his long-awaited album is set to be released at the end of 2026. He described one of the songs as “the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time,” and mentioned that it has a vibe similar to Daft Punk.
Colbert also asked Stipe who he thinks should play him in a potential R.E.M. biopic. After jokingly saying, “Someone really hot,” Stipe suggested Billie Eilish, recalling a moment when she held a door open for him in a Manhattan restaurant. He praised her politeness and sweetness, even though he didn’t recognize her at the time. Colbert offered to introduce Stipe to Eilish and her brother, FINNEAS.
In addition to his new song, Stipe released “I Played the Fool” in March, which serves as the theme for the HBO series Rooster. Fans are excited to see what else Stipe has in store with his solo career.
