Stereogum

The Alternative Number Ones: R.E.M.’s “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?”

In The Alternative Number Ones, I'm reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This ...
American Songwriter

The Strange and Sad Conspiracy Theory That Inspired This R.E.M. Song and Became a Cultural Phenomenon

Inspiration can come from the strangest, saddest, and scariest places, including this odd conspiracy theory that inspired Michael Stipe to write the classic R.E.M. song, “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth ...