Michael Stipe ( US, 1960) is a singer and composer , artist, filmmaker and activist. He lives in Athens, Georgia and New York City . R.e.m. It was formed in 1980 and was considered by Rolling Stone magazine as " the best rock and roll band in America." R.e.m. He went from being a cult among college to sell more than one hundred million albums worldwide and be inducted into the Hall of Fame rock and roll in 2007.