Michael Stipe was a guest on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to talk about what he’s been up to since R.E.M. last performed together in 2011. Stipe and Colbert burned through a bunch of topics including why he had to step away from music, a new album he’s produced and co-written for electroclash duo Fischerspooner, the electoral college, and a book he’s written with no pages that doubles as an escape hatch for tough times à la the Acme Portable Hole. Then the two joined together in song to recap the year in “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It” along with James Franco joining in for the final chorus. Check out the song and interview below.