Michael Stipe Pays Tribute To Heath Ledger

Michael Stipe has paid tribute to Heath Ledger during R.E.M’s set at this year’s SXSW in Austin Texas.

The front man dedicated the track ‘Until The Day Is Done’ to the actor as they gave the audience a taste of their new album ‘Accelerate’.

Before performing the song he said, "This is dedicated to Heath Ledger who loved this song," before ending it with, "Goodbye Heath, we loved you!"

The 90 minute set mixed new and old songs with Stipe promising the audience: "The good news is most of them are under two-and-a-half minutes so if you don't like them you can have a pee break or grab a beer."

According to NME he also voiced his concerns about the current political climate as the band performed three tracks about the issue.

He said: "I'm terrified at how history will look back at the overreacting of the current administration to 9/11. We have a little less than two years to make something more of this decade."

The full set list was:

Living Well Is The Best Revenge
Man Sized Wreath
Second Guessing
Drive
Hollow Man
Animal
Auctioneer
Mr. Richards
Fall On Me
Great Beyond
Houston
Electrolite
Accelerate
Until The Day Is Done
Final Straw
Bad Day
Horse To Water
Walk Unafraid
Supernatural Superserious
Imitation Of Life
Im Gonna DJ
Man On The Moon