My feeling is that labels are for canned food... I am what I am - and I know what I am.
Michael Stipe

If I'm tired of me, I'm sure the public is as well.
Michael Stipe

There was never a golden era of American radio as far as I can tell.
Michael Stipe

I went through a period where I was really tired of seeing and reading about myself.
Michael Stipe

So, when you divide the world into music lovers, music fans and then those people who are just very casual about their music, it's wallpaper to them, it's elevator music, it's just the thing that's playing in the background that helps them through their day.
Michael Stipe

So, we just kind of created our own thing and that's part of the beauty of Athens: is that it's so off the map and there's no way you could ever be the East Village or an L.A. scene or a San Francisco scene, that it just became its own thing.
Michael Stipe

But I think the one thing that I can say about us is that we're very consistent about certain things and part of that is our desire to do the very best work that we can and not rest on our laurels, or not allow formula to come into what we do.
Michael Stipe