ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by indicating two thematic areas: the complex relation of the famous US rock group R.E.M. to heterosexist and masculinist traditions of authenticity; and the elusiveness of singer and lyricist Michael Stipe's words. It suggests that these themes can be understood in relation to Michael Stipe's sexuality, long a matter of speculation, lately described by Michael Stipe as "queer." The chapter develops these issues by commenting on Stipe's role as, in his words, a "queer artist." An intriguing aspect of Michael Stipe's self-presentation, expressed in interviews, is the recurring cross-gender identification of his influences. He consistently cites, as a crucial turning point, his adolescent discovery of Patti Smith. In 1994 and 1995, on the occasion of the release of Monster and a subsequent world tour, Michael Stipe gave a series of interviews in which, for the first time, he answered questions about his sexuality.
