https:// redice.tv/news/strange-story-behind-r-e-m-s-song-what-s-the-frequency-kenneth

The song by REM details the attack on Dan Rather by William Tager in 1997.

In 1997, based on a tip from a psychiatrist, Rather’s attacker was identified as William Tager. According to the psychiatrist, Tager, who was currently serving time for killing an NBC stagehand, blamed news media for beaming signals into his head, and thought if he could just find out the correct frequency, he could block those signals that were constantly assailing him.

The song is filled with MKUltra themes