Quite apart from his morality and his attitude towards the butcher Bush (and his co-killer Blair), I love REM and his fabulous voice and songs.

On the One Show, God bless him.

Great concert - a real star.

Your post Toby implies you have been to a gig. The word is that Twickenham is far from sold out.Can you confirm which show (and the attendence) you saw. thanks

Lyon July 8th

Gather Twickenham had an entire tier empty but reviews generally magnificent. I still believe Stipe is one of the ten great music people of the last century.

Others? Lennon, Jagger, Morrissey, Spector, Jackson, Meek, Prince, me...

Chuck Berry, Tony Bennett, Johnnny Cash, Presley, Marvin Gaye, Joan Baez,Sam Cooke, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bono, Van Morrison ( but sadly not you JK !)

Twickenham was not full but a decent crowd enjoyed a night of obscure REM material and the hits. The new album songs come across well but the audience appeared unfamiliar with most of them.Stipe's politics are tiresomely instrusive most of the time but I guess he means well.

I understand what you are saying about politics and megastars Walter, but it must be very difficult for those concerned in selling that many records with their own beliefs stamped on them to not think they are politicians as well.

Difficult one, the original belief will always come forward in a performance.