michael stipe has used celebrity status support political , humanitarian causes; seen here @ 2007 tribeca film festival, created renew neighborhood of new york city after september 11 attacks.
throughout r.e.m. s career, members sought highlight social , political issues. according los angeles times, r.e.m. considered 1 of united states liberal , politically correct rock groups. band s members on same page politically, sharing liberal , progressive outlook. mills admitted there dissension between band members on causes might support, acknowledged out of respect people disagree, discussions tend stay in-house, because d rather not let people know divisions lie, people can t exploit them own purposes. example in 1990 buck noted stipe involved people ethical treatment of animals, rest of band not.
r.e.m. helped raise funds environmental, feminist , human rights causes, , involved in campaigns encourage voter registration. during green tour, stipe took time during sets inform audience variety of pressing socio-political issues. through late 1980s , 1990s, band (particularly stipe) increasingly used media coverage on national television mention variety of causes felt important. 1 example when band attended 1991 mtv video music awards, during stipe wore half-dozen white shirts emblazoned slogans including rainforest , love knows no colors , , handgun control .
r.e.m. helped raise awareness of aung san suu kyi , human rights violations in burma, when worked freedom campaign , campaign burma. stipe himself ran ads 1988 supporting democratic presidential candidate , massachusetts governor michael dukakis on then-vice president george h. w. bush. in 2004, band participated in vote change tour sought mobilize american voters support democratic presidential candidate john kerry. r.e.m. s political stance, particularly coming wealthy rock band under contract label owned multinational corporation, received criticism former q editor paul du noyer, criticized band s celebrity liberalism , saying, s entirely pain-free form of rebellion re adopting. there s no risk involved in whatsoever, quite bit of shoring of customer loyalty.
from late 1980s, r.e.m. involved in local politics of hometown of athens, georgia. buck explained sounds in 1987, michael says think local , act local—we have been doing lot of stuff in our town try , make better place. band donated funds local charities , renovate , preserve historic buildings in town. r.e.m. s political clout credited narrow election of athens mayor gwen o looney twice in 1990s.
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