Michael Stipe Teases His First Ever Solo Song

Former R.E.M. frontman has been a vocal advocate for gun control over the years, and he has enthusiastically embraced the @neveragain movement since the fatal shootings last month at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. On Saturday, Stipe teased what would be his first ever solo song with a 40-second Instagram snippet of a track called “Future, If Future” to mark the day’s March for Our Lives rallies across the world. Over a frenetic electro beat, Stipe sings, “Future, if Future, this future is ours/ Stunk to high heaven lotus, nerve gas or flowers/ We’ve got the obvious, we’ve got the power/ Please don’t stare, we’re doing all we can.”

R.E.M.’s official Twitter account referred to “Future, If Future” as “a new song,” so we’re definitely eager to hear the whole thing.