Michael Stipe Debuts with "I Played the Fool" - Amazing Guests and Recording with Andrew Watt
Automatic translation. Read the Russian original
Recently, in early March, legendary R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe wowed the music world with one of the brightest songs of 2026, “I Played the Fool.” Co-authored by uber-producer Andrew Watt, and the song was created specifically for use in the credits of the new comedy series "Rooster", which was written by Bill Lawrence (known for "Ted Lasso" and "Therapy").
In May, Watt's original soundtrack was released, featuring various versions of "I Played the Fool," and Stipe performed the song for the first time on Jimmy Kimmel's show yesterday. The recording was attended by famous musicians: Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam), Troy Van Luin (Queens of the Stone Age), Chris Chain (Jane's Addiction, AC/DC) and Chad Smith (RHCP), who previously worked with Paul McCartney.
Despite his 66-year-old age, Stipe has retained an amazing voice, making the artist's highly anticipated debut solo album one of the year's most anticipated releases.