Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy performed R.E.M.’s “Driver 8” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, joined by Jon Wurster, John Stirratt and Dag Juhlin. The television appearance was a cover of the song from R.E.M.’s 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction, not a new Shannon and Narducy original.
Who performed “Driver 8” on Fallon?
Shannon and Narducy led the performance with drummer Jon Wurster, bassist John Stirratt and guitarist Dag Juhlin. Stereogum reported on January 9, 2025, that the performance had taken place the previous night and linked the official Tonight Show video: Watch Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy cover R.E.M.’s “Driver 8” on The Tonight Show.
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What is the song’s R.E.M. connection?
“Driver 8” is an R.E.M. song from the band’s 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction. The Fallon appearance brings that original recording into a different setting: a live television cover by Shannon, Narducy and their band. The report documents a video performance; it does not establish a separate commercial audio or physical release of this cover.
How does the performance fit Shannon and Narducy’s R.E.M. project?
The Fallon performance followed an album-focused tribute project. R.E.M.’s official site says Shannon, Narducy and Friends performed Murmur in full at Chicago’s Metro in July 2023 for the album’s 40th anniversary, and announced a February 2024 tour that included Athens. The announcement described a format that opened with the album in sequence and then continued with other R.E.M. songs, with the latter part varying by night. R.E.M.’s announcement of the Murmur tribute includes comments from both musicians: Shannon called the songs “magic” and “spells,” while Narducy described playing the album with Shannon and the band as “an absolute blast.”
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In a 2026 interview, Narducy characterized the collaboration as part of a series of album-themed projects. He described the group’s approach as learning the songs closely while still letting the musicians bring their own interpretation. Read Jason Narducy’s interview with Guitar World.
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Where to start listening
- For R.E.M.’s original version and its album context, look for Fables of the Reconstruction. Availability and editions depend on the retailer and format.
- For Shannon and Narducy’s cover, watch the official Tonight Show video linked in Stereogum’s report.
- For the earlier album tribute, R.E.M.’s announcement documents the Murmur performance and tour plans; it is a separate project from the Fallon cover.
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