(Gibson) R.E.M. only released Collapse into Now in March, but the band are already in the studio working on the album's follow-up, and vocalist Michael Stipe is posting updates on the sessions via iPhone.Images from the sessions can be seen on the website of Stipe's friend Jane Pratt, a radio host and founder of Sassy magazine. The pics can be found in the "Jane's Phone" section of her website. Look for the "Michael's Phone" pics. Images posted so far include some words of inspiration on the music biz courtesy of Hunter S. Thompson, and a sign.
R.E.M. decided not to tour on the back of Collapse into Now, with guitarist Peter Buck telling NME the band felt it had already toured a lot over the past eight or 10 years. "You just don't really want to repeat yourself in that way," he said. more on this story
