Michael Stipe to announce shock retirement from music?

By Smith Alexander
Washington
Last updated on August 14, 2025

R.E.M. frontman created a stir on Wednesday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

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Sad news for Stipe fans. Speculation had been rife that R.E.M. frontman is about to announce his retirement from music, at age 65, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 14/08/2025 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a singer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a singer-songwriter just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouMichael

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouMichael was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.