Watch Michael Stipe Play A Surprise Solo Set, Cover The Doors

Watch Michael Stipe Play A Surprise Solo Set, Cover The Doors

There are lots of good reasons to go see Patti Smith play a New York show if you get a chance, but here’s an extra one: There’s a pretty high probability that Michael Stipe will play a surprise solo set at the show. Last year, Stipe played his first-ever solo set, which included a Perfume Genius cover, when he served as the surprise opener for a Patti Smith show at Webster Hall. And last night, as Pitchfork reports, Stipe did it again, serving as Smith’s surprise opener at the Beacon Theatre. He did an acoustic all-covers set with a tiny backing band. According to Pitchfork, Stipe’s set included covers of Boy George’s “The Crying Game” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” And below, you can watch fan-made footage of him covering the Doors’ “People Are Strange,” Mott The Hoople’s “All The Young Dudes,” and Neil Young’s “Old Man.”

Michael Stipe! #whenyourestrange

A video posted by Laura Kaye (@laurakayemusic) on

You can hear a longer version of that “All The Young Dudes” cover here.

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