R.E.M. II: The band’s absence from the...

R.E.M. II: The band’s absence from the concert circuit during the “Out of Time� period fueled rumors that lead singer Michael Stipe was suffering from AIDS. The band’s continuing absence could add even further to the speculation.

“Ah, that’s been around for a long time,� Buck says, dismissing the reports. “We’ve all been tested. We have insurance at the level we’re at. But in a way, those rumors might be positive because it makes people aware. These are perilous times, and anything that makes people think about it is fine.

“We all took it with a grain of salt. Michael is the healthiest person I know. No one here was mad about the rumors. People talk all the time. For years people said I must be a junkie because I wore long-sleeve shirts. But now I’m in my T-shirt mode, since I actually have muscles.�