Michael Stipe appeared at a Harris-Walz rally in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday that was attended by Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz (MN) and running mate Doug Emhoff. He played REM’s “Driver 8” from the band’s third album, 1985 Fables of Reconstruction.

“Thank you for being here and thank you for voting or preparing to vote,” Stipe said Video recordings shown from the event. “I want to encourage everyone in Georgia because we know what this means. We’ve been here before. We know what it means when you bring together every single person in your community, your church, your skate club – whatever it is, get them out there, talk to them, get them there to vote.”

Before starting the song, he explained that he sang the song because it was Walz’s favorite song from the band’s repertoire: “A little bird backstage told me that this was the Governor of REM’s favorite song, so will we will do it for you. ”

Before the appearance, he mocked Trump’s use of the Village People’s “YMCA” at his rallies and urged fans in the audience to chant “VOTE” instead, spelling the letters with their arms. And then Stipe told a sweet love story. He said that while he was celebrating his friend’s birthday in New York in 2018, who wasn’t having a good day, he saw a couple next to him having dinner.

“They’re sitting so close to each other, they’re so madly in love, it’s obvious. And at some point they got up to leave. I didn’t notice, I was enjoying my friend’s company,” he said. “I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around and this woman says, ‘My husband loves your music.’ He’s a big fan of yours. My name is Kamala Harris. This is Doug Emhoff.”

Six years later, he added: “These people are genuinely, genuinely, madly in love with each other, and what a joy it is to see that back then it was just the two of them privately enjoying each other’s company, and now to see and celebrate.” that kind of dedication and that kind of love on a national and global level.”

Last month, Stipe also performed “Driver 8” and “The One I Love” alongside Jason Isbell at a Harris-Walz Pittsburgh fundraiser.