Good news for fans of R.E.M., or at least of their frontman Michael Stipe - we may be hearing from him in some musical form or other before too long.

Stipe has keep a rather low profile over the last five years since R.E.M.'s split, occasionally appearing at tribute concerts or hanging out taking selfies with his celeb friends like U2.

However, after appearing at David Bowie tribute concerts earlier in the year, it seems that the musical bug may have bitten him again.

He told The New York Times that he was producing the new album for electronica act Fischerspooner, adding: "“I’m not ready to go completely into pop stardom again, as a 56-year-old.... [but] I want to work in music again.”

Stipe recently told Alec Baldwin on his podcast that he was considered for the role of John Doe in the movie Se7en - so if he gets bored of music again, maybe he can try his hand at acting... or if he's still rocking that beard (below), there's seasonal work going at this time of year.