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Gemma Cairney joins Michael Stipe to talk about his passion for photography.

Gemma Cairney continues a new series of The Leisure Society, interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for.

For this programme Gemma joins R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe at the ICA in London to discuss his love of photography. He studied photography and painting at University of Georgia before leaving school to form the band R.E.M., serving as frontman and singer-songwriter until the band dissolved in 2011. The sensibility he began developing during his time as an art student transferred to his work for R.E.M. – from art directing their graphics, videos and stage design, to writing, composing and performance.

His new book Volume 1, brings together nearly 40 years of creating and collecting photographic materials, in addition to posing as a subject in the photographs of others. He discusses the stories behind the photos of River Phoenix’s dreadlocks as they traversed the US in 1993 shortly before Phoenix died, Kurt Cobain’s hands, his first love Jeremy Ayers, Patti Smith, William Burroughs, and what happened when he met Andy Warhol for the first time.

He also discusses love and loss, producing New York artist Fischerspooner’s new album, recently discovering the music of Nils Frahm and why he’s leaving Instagram.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 15 Aug 2020 04:00

Music Played

  • R.E.M.

    The One I Love

    • I.R.S..
  • R.E.M.

    Talk About the Passion

    • IRS.
  • Patti Smith

    My Blakean Year

  • DJ Shadow

    What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 1)

    • (CD Single).
    • Mo Wax.
    • 3.
  • Underworld

    Born Slippy

    • Junior Boys Own.
  • Nils Frahm

    More

    • Erased Tapes.
  • Edith Sitwell

    The Wind's Bastinado

  • Nirvana

    Come As You Are

    • Geffen.
  • Patti Smith

    Birdland

  • Sheila & B. Devotion

    Spacer

    • Best Disco Album In The World...Ever!.
    • Virgin.
  • R.E.M.

    Find the River

    • Warner Bros.
  • µþÂáö°ù°ì

    Declare Independence

  • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Here Comes My Girl

    • MCA.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Sep 2018 13:00
  • Tue 16 Apr 2019 01:00
  • Sat 15 Aug 2020 04:00

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