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1/19/07, 6:15 pm EST

Assignment Two Finalist: Chris Faris — 10 Questions for Michael Stipe

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Note: This is not an official Rolling Stone article. What follows is a submission to the “I’m From Rolling Stone” writing competition.

by Chris Faris
Age: 34

1. With over 25 years as a celebrity, what would you say are the best and worst aspects of being recognized everywhere you go?

2. Musically and culturally, how do you define being ‘relevant’ in today’s fractured culture?

3. Have you ever actually tried to play an instrument on a recording?

4. When you were younger, you were less vocal as a person, but more vocal as an artist politically. Why has this changed?

5. Spending a great deal of time in NYC, and being a big supporter of her husband, what is your opinion of a presidential bid for Hillary Clinton?

6. You are also a filmmaker – the advent of the internet and YouTube makes immediate, massive distribution of media both free and easy. How would this have changed your career path? Would you still do what you do for free?

7. How surreal does it seem to you, being inducted into the HOF at the same time as Patty Smith, who was a huge influence on you as an artist?

8. When was the last time you took yourself too seriously?

9. Can you see Peter and Mike and yourself onstage in 10 years a-la the Rolling Stones?

10. If you had to go take a ‘joe’ job what would you want to do, and definitely NOT want to do?

-- Rolling Stone

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Comments

jonny6 | 3/2/2007, 10:32 pm EST

jonny10

False Stipe | 1/23/2007, 2:02 am EST

1. Being recognized everywhere I go.
2. Who cares? Warner Brothers paid us back in 1997, and we quit caring with the 2nd jet.
3. Uh, yes.. I played some guys’ skin flute on ‘New Orleans Instrumental No. 5′.. If you listen, you can hear his ‘d’ note..
4. Semen. Semen makes me more vocal.
5. Who?
6. So, you’re saying I’m a whore?
7. Not at all. When you buy your way into the hall of fame, you actually pay less per person for a 5 man band.. so, we paid it and just told them, “hey, tough shit fuckers, she sang on ‘E-Bow’”
8. Have you seen my stage makeup?
9. Peter drinks more than Keef Richards, so maybe they will have a tour for their new livers.. Mike Mills never ages.. he will be touring with Beck’s grandson and Natalie Merchant’s robot kid too. Me? Naah, me and the MR. will grow old watching the rushes grow green.
10. I would love to be a porn star. I would hate to be a politician. Luvya!
10.

Chris F. | 1/23/2007, 1:44 am EST

Ok.. I like Lennon too. Um, as far as R.E.M.s music changing? I didn’t say that..I said that Michael as a person was in the background as a public figger, but the songs were more blatant in the 80s- now, Michael the man is loud, but the songs are less volatile…
Did I misspell Patti Smith’s name? Ooops.. must admit, I didn’t see that one! Thanks, I think editors usually catch that kinda thing..

I sure wish Michael Stipe would post his answers here…

Sirhcsiraf | 1/22/2007, 12:01 pm EST

Yeah, I like this one.. the questions are generalized - not over the top fanboy shit.. real person stuff for a made up celebrity.. And the entrant never says the music changed, he assumes Stipey has changed as a more confident person.. not artist. I think…

baconballs | 1/22/2007, 12:34 am EST

perhaps the entrant used a spell checking software that changes patti to patty..since patty is a word.(And then pasted it into the body of the entry) Also, perhaps the entrant believes that REM as a band wrote many more political songs against Reagan than Bush…

Quite well done.

El Bicho | 1/21/2007, 3:14 am EST

How can you be a finalist and spell Patti Smith’s name wrong?

sixie | 1/19/2007, 10:35 pm EST

My two fav’s in rock music are John Winston Lennon, Roger Waters and Pete Townshend. Did I say two? War and music do become tonic together with these artist….GO WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dare To Hear A Fool | 1/19/2007, 7:31 pm EST

their music has changed politically!? since when? last i knew, michael stipe was still trashing pres. bush…

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