Erstwhile R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe made his TV debut as a solo act Tuesday night on The Tonight Show with a gorgeously bare cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World.” Stipe is set to perform at Carnegie Hall on Thursday and Friday for two sold-out David Bowie tribute concerts.
If this is a preview of what to expect from him at the concert, things are looking good. With only a piano accompanying him, Stipe’s performance is delicate and mournful, striking the perfect tone for one of Bowie’s most beloved and introspective songs. The tribute concert will stream worldwide, and can be viewed in exchange for a donation to one of the concert’s charity partners.
