Michael Stipe joins the National for the Dessners' belated 50th in Biarritz

Michael Stipe joined the National at AB100 on Oct. 17, a belated 50th birthday celebration for twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner at Atabal in Biarritz, France. The Dessners turned 50 on April 23. Jon Hopkins, Ben Howard, Anaïs Mitchell, Richard Reed Parry and Ragnar Kjartansson were also on the guest list.

Stipe sang "No Time for Love Like Now," his 2020 collaboration with Aaron Dessner, then joined Matt Berninger for R.E.M.'s "E-Bow the Letter." Aaron Dessner recalled the band opening for R.E.M. in 2007-8: "We used to beg them to play certain songs, and sometimes they would oblige. We did it today again, and Michael gracefully said yes." Stipe handed the brothers small handmade sculptures. "You can use it as a guitar slide," he said, "but you might get electrocuted, which is not good."

The night followed the National's first show in two years, Oct. 11 in Berlin as part of PEOPLE. The event continues in nearby San Sebastian with a full National concert. Stipe's solo debut is expected next May, per what he told the Los Angeles Times.