Michael Stipe performs REM’s “Wendell Gee” for the first time since 1985 at the Harris/Walz Rally in Athens, Georgia.

Last night, October 10th, Michael Stipe returned to Athens, Georgia, the city where he first joined forces with Bill Berry, Peter Buck and Mike Mills to form REM. It was in this hallowed territory that the legendary singer and songwriter took the stage to support the band The Harris/Walz campaign’s Get Out the Vote initiative brought a highlight to the Peach State rally with a four-song performance. This was Stipe’s second appearance on the campaign trail, following an appearance alongside Jason Isbell in Pittsburgh on October 4th.

After an introduction by second husband Doug Emhoff, who chaired the event, Stipe warmed up the crowd by recalling his first chance encounter with Harris and Emhoff, whom he described as “two real, real, crazy-in-love people.” His comments led directly to his first performance of REMs Fables of Reconstruction A fan favorite “Wendell Gee” since its release in 1985, with support from Andy LeMaster of Now It’s Overhead and David Barbe of Sugar. Introducing the track, he noted: “This first song was written here in Athens and I have performed it exactly four times in my life. So if I mess up, I’ll just keep going and maybe it’ll get a little better.”

Stipe followed the rarity with “Your Capricious Soul,” taken from his 2019 solo album of the same name, and “No Time for Love Like Now,” his 2020 collaboration with Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine, which he as “No Time for Love Like Now” introduced live debut. To close the performance, Stipe returned to “Driver 8,” which he previously performed at the Pittsburgh rally.

Watch Stipe’s performance at the Get Out the Vote event below.